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While many people think they are good listeners, research shows that is not the case

Many rush to give advice or reassurance, or they don't respond at all, which can feel dismissive

The good thing is that listening is a skill that can be improved and refined with practice

Most of us like to believe we're good listeners.

We tell our friends, "I'm here if you need me." We encourage loved ones to reach out when they're struggling. We think of ourselves as supportive, compassionate people. But when someone actually comes to us with their pain, many of us don't know what to do.

Most of us think we are better at listening than we are

The friend who says, "You can talk to me anytime," but never responds to your texts when you do reach out. The listener who turns the conversation back to their own experiences before you've even finished telling your story.

The person who becomes so uncomfortable with your pain that they rush to reassure you that everything will be okay: "You'll figure it out!" Even........

© Psychology Today