The art of Listening is crucial to practices like yoga and meditation. So often, we overlook this aspect of ourselves, yet it's our primary focus in yoga, as well as to a great extent our daily lives. Therefore, why not perfect this ability with others every day, and maximize every minute of every day you have? Consider how you can improve your listening skills to benefit yourself and others.

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To be a great listener, first you must know what it means to be a good listener. It means paying attention, being attentive to what another is saying, comprehending what they are saying, being able to respond accordingly, and responding compassionately. By practicing this on a daily basis, great listeners will come naturally. It's a simple connection that is easily made, but most people overlook this ability, instead feeling compelled to speak up in discussions or debates, rather than listening. The result is a muddled discussion, full of non-sequiturs and wasted energy.

Another key aspect of becoming a great listener is understanding how your body reads the words another person speaks. Consider how you might react if you heard someone talking about something you don't understand, or if you were trying to read what they were talking about when they said those words. You might grow agitated, breathe heavily, or think to yourself, "What the hell just happened?" By understanding how other people process words in their sentences, you can begin to understand how to better engage another person in a conversation, as well.

One of the ways to master the art of listening is to really pay attention to what the person is saying. In fact, many people say that it's more important to listen with an open mind than to simply hear what another person is saying. That's because when you are focused on what someone is saying, you will be able to comprehend what they are trying to say much more easily. Instead of reacting or interrupting, you'll simply listen with an open mind and listen to what the other person is saying.

You also need to learn the art of active listening, which is often a skill that is neglected by marketers. While a prospect may offer you something to sell, it doesn't mean you have to actively ask the prospect to tell you why he or she wants the product. You have to be a good listener first, before you can start making small talk or offering incentives to get the prospect's attention. If you don't know how to put this kind of skill into practice, however, your prospects will likely move on to someone who does, so keep that in mind when you are putting together your marketing materials.

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As you work on being a better listener, you will come to appreciate how much you have to give in the way of feedback, as well. Good listeners not only hear but they pick up on the subtleties of what is being said and understand the motivations behind the words that don't seem as obvious. They can also put aside their own agendas and concerns and really listen to the prospect's needs. You can use this talent to help you close more sales than you ever thought possible. You will be surprised at the results, which will motivate you to continue using this quality to great effect.