You are only part of what you can be because you haven't heard the rest yet. Make listening first on your "must improve" list and develop into an expert. If you do…the complex will become simple and the value in everything apparent and no longer will great ideas be lost.

Focus and Concentration
People are easily distracted by nature. Develop the habit of "catching" yourself when your thoughts wander. This will require discipline, attention and practice. Create an environment with fewer distractions. Turn off the television or radio. Move physically to an isolated or private spot. Most of all concentrate!

Bias
Our natural impulse is to filter information through our own experiences. This is a big problem! No two people possess identical perspectives. Therefore all information is subject to interpretation. These biases can be the foundation for minor communication problems or larger social issues.

Additionally, sometimes you might hear something that turns you off, stops you from maintaining your interest in the conversation. This happens all the time. Unfortunately, if you stop listening, you might miss interesting information or common ground that you were unaware of. Be aware of your slanted thinking and beware the slants of others.

Stop Talking
The primary obstacle to listening is TALKING! If you interrupt, ramble on, or dominate a social interaction you will disrupt any chance of really knowing what is on someone's mind. It doesn't take long for someone to disengage from a conversation if they aren't allowed to express themselves.

Listening Strategies
Great listening skills need to be developed! You will need to make a commitment to learn how to become a great listener, it doesn't happen by accident.

Keep an Open Mind
Even the world's most successful people can learn something from everyone. Recognize that your reference points are biased by nature. Gain new reference points from the eyes of others. Much of what you need to know will come from others who are different from you.

Ask Questions
Most people struggle to provide information in a clear concise manner. They may have valuable information and need a little help delivering it. Use questions to help clarify statements. Keep asking for a better explanation or for more information. Don't be afraid to use non-verbal questioning as someone is speaking. Look "puzzled" or hesitant while they are speaking and more often than not they will respond with better clarification.

Provide Feedback
When a person is done speaking, summarize the important points as you heard them. This process will help to gain agreement and most importantly help to identify any disconnects. Often two people will walk away from a conversation after hearing the same words with a completely different interpretation of the conversation. The simple process of re-stating key points is critical.

Observe/Watch
Use your intuition and senses to assess the situation better. Body language is as important as the spoken word in communication. If the words are inconsistent with the expression on their face or their posture you may have a problem. Use body language to help determine the "true" status of the conversation. If things don't "feel right" to you…trust your feelings and don't be afraid to ask more questions and even confront the person with this.