Have you ever been with someone that seem like they know everyone?  People love them, and want to be around them and they just seem magnetic?  So how can you become that kind of person?  Listen.  That’s right start listening to people and you will have no end to friends.

So how does one become an active participant in listening.  Listening is more than waiting for your turn to speak and you can improve your listening skills with just  a little effort.

1.  Pay attention.  Give the person you are engaged with your attention, look at them, put aside distractions, both internal and external.  Focus on the person speaking.  Don’t talk to others in the room while trying to listen, and don’t think about other things while listening.  Just listen.

2.  Show them you are listening by nodding and smiling occasionally.  Make sure your posture is open and inviting.

3.  Make sure you understand what they are saying.  Ask them to clarify points you may not understand.  Don’t be formulating your response while they are talking, but summarize what you just heard to make sure you heard correctly.  People love to be understood and they will love your attentiveness and be happy to clarify.

4.  Hold your judgement and comments until the speaker is finished.  DO NOT interrupt people when they are talking.

5.  Don’t attack the speaker, but give your opinions kindly and respectfully.  People don’t mind if you disagree with them, they just don’t want you to be rude about it!

Listening is a lost art in this age of quick phone calls, Facebook, Twitter and texting.  However, if you want or need to attract people into your life, learn to listen to them.  Remember people don’t care how much you know, until they know how much you care.