Listen before you speak

  A real conversation cannot be one-sided. When talking with a friend, or potential friend, take the time to listen first, and worry later about being heard yourself. Your generositywill be reciprocated.

  The foundation for a meaningful friendship, one that is based on  mutual respect and caring, starts the moment you meet someone. At that point, you are presented not only with that person's words, but also with lots of other information: his or her tone of voice, body language, colloquialisms, and mannerisms. The way you absorb and respond to that wealth of information can make or break the new relationship. If someone senses that you are not making the effort to listen or are not really interested in what he or she is saying, he or she will probably just stop talking to you. But if you make an effort to genuinely hear and understand, you will generate further conversation--and a real connection. Listen up!

 -

In your next conversation, note any tendency on your part to drift away while the other person is speaking, and focus your attention on their words.

=====

from <The art of friendship>, Roger Horchow, Sally Horchow

=====

new words:

generosity

reciprocate

colloquialism

genuinely

tendency