Ed Mylett

And so if you're really listening closely, not only are you connecting better with me, but they will tell you the three or four words they use a lot.

Every human being does this, by the way.

You do it too.

You have a few words you use more than most.

And if someone's really listening closely, they can hear what those words are.

And if I use one or two of those words back with you, I've connected with you on a deeper level.

The next thing that's huge, by the way, in listening is to repeat back to them what you believe they've just said.

Repeat back to them what you've heard.

This is what I've heard.

This is what I'm hearing.

This is what I'm listening to.

This is true when I'm interacting with my children.

Before I just tell them I want to do something, I listen to them and I say, here's what daddy's hearing.

Is this true?

That's really been bothering you regularly.

So when I'm listening to them, they know I'm listening.

Use acknowledgement statements.

It's not done enough.

People love to be complimented.

I love to be complimented.