One more thing about listening.
Peter Drucker (a prominent management consultant and author) once said, “The most important thing in communication is hearing what isn’t said.” The point he was making is that listening involves more than just hearing. Often people omit things that are difficult to say or they don’t want you to know. But many times the things omitted (intentionally or not) are critical to understanding a situation.
Also, watch the speakers body language. It can tell a lot about them and what they are communicating. It gives clues to truthfulness and emotion they may not express in words.
A wise, discerning, emotionally mature person not only listens for what is said, but what is not said. And that, in turn, can drive the effectiveness of the rest of the interaction and the relationship.
This adulting thing can be so hard sometimes!
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