Listen. Silent.

What do these two words have in common?

Yes, listen and silent have the same letters. Yes, being a good listener requires being silent. However, there’s more than just being silent when you listen.

One of the best ways you can actively listen is to quiet your distracting thoughts while the other person is speaking. It’s hard to do! But by getting so engrossed in your thoughts and your response, you can miss what the other person is saying. Be present when you’re silent.

And, if you’re the speaker, be okay with the moment of silence before the response. It means the other person is listening.