This skill is also known as active listening, and it requires more than just sitting in silence while someone speaks.
"Active listening is when someone can listen to you at length, truly taking in what you're saying, and not interrupt," Maenpaa says.
"Active listeners respond with questions because they are genuinely curious about what you're saying.
Some people are "naturally gifted with [active listening skills] from an early age, and often receive feedback like, 'You're so easy to talk to!'
or 'I feel like I'm the only person in the room when we talk,'" says Maenpaa.
Persons:
Jenny Maenpaa, Maenpaa, Amanda O'Bryan
Organizations:
CNBC, University of Southern
Locations:
New York, University of Southern California