Good listening

How attentive are you in conversations with others? Are you ever guilty of playing with your cell phone while you are "listening?" Do you interrupt the speaker? Do you frequently misunderstand what was said? Do you ask people to repeat what they said?

Good relationships thrive on good listening. Make it a point this week to listen attentively. The best way to show you are listening is to paraphrase back what you heard and ask for confirmation. It's a simple step but it can make life easier.