14 Ways to Become an Incredible Listener1. Be present and provide your undivided attention.2. Seek first to understand, then to be understood.3. Listen attentively and respond appropriately.4. Minimize or eliminate distractions.5. Focus your attention and energy with singleness of purpose on what the other person is saying.6. Quiet your mind and suspend your thoughts to make room in your head to hear what is said—at the moment!7. Ask questions and demonstrate empathy.8. Use your body language and nonverbal cues constructively and pay attention to theirs.9. Follow the rhythm of their speech; hear their tone.10. Repeat and summarize what you have heard them say to confirm understanding.11. Be open-minded and non-defensive.12. Respond rather than react. 13. Be respectful, calm, and positive.14. Try to resolve conflicts, not win them.

— Susan C. Young

Active listening is key to all healthy and effective communication, however, it doesn't necessarily come easily.

— Susan C. Young

Active listening is not only a matter of making yourself available to hear someone talk, but it is showing the sender, physically, that you are receiving and understanding their message on all levels.

— Susan C. Young

Active listening is one of the best services a company can provide.

— Susan C. Young

Active listening is the ultimate "Golden Rule" for sensational customer service. Just as the important people in your life will feel more valued and appreciated when you actively listen, so will your customers.

— Susan C. Young

Active listening requires being fully present and engaged at the moment.

— Susan C. Young

As a father, we need to actively listen.

— Asa Don Brown

ASK YOURSELF: How can you utilize active listening to provide sensational customer service? How will this help resolve complaints from unhappy customers?• Give them your full attention and listen without interruption or defensiveness.• Thank them for bringing the issue to your attention.• Take their concerns seriously and share their sense of urgency to resolve the problem quickly.• Ask questions and focus on what they are really saying. • Listen to their words, tone of voice, body language, and most importantly, how they feel. • Beware of making assumptions or rushing to conclusions before you hear their concern fully.• Explain, guide, educate, assist, and do what’s necessary to help them reach the resolution.• Treat them with respect and empathy. When you do an amazing job of resolving an unhappy customer’s problem, you may end up impressing them more than if the problem had never occurred. You may have just earned their loyalty. . . Forever!

— Susan C. Young

Become keenly aware of these three layers to discover whether you're listening with interest and intent for excellent communication and understanding—or are you unintentionally sabotaging potentially phenomenal conversations. Knowledge of the listening planes will raise your awareness. And as you apply these, enjoy the surprising difference.

— Susan C. Young

Becoming an empathetic listener helps you to better understand how another person feels and why they communicate as they do.

— Susan C. Young