I try to listen for the feeling behind/under the words being spoken. Ask yourself why they're saying the thing they're saying, and try to respond to that.
Ask HN: How did you become a good listener?
21–22 of 22 posts
Re: Ask HN: How did you become a good listener?
#22First you have to see people as human beings instead of "human doings". Instead of sizing them up and judging their worth by their achievements, you have to see them as creatures worth interacting with for no reason.
Growing up in a transactional culture, I had the habit of only talking and listening to people if I need something from them or if they achieved massive financial success. This is a very sad way to live life.
Studying the philosophy of Absurdism helped immensely with that, and I also traveled the world to interact with different cultures.