Listening heals hurts and builds bridges. It gives us the ability to understand and view the world from our own point.

As it turns out, effective listening is actually a combination of two key communication skills: listening and confirming. As an effective listener, your goal is to hear and absorb what another has to say. 【小题1】

This is much easier said than done, so here are a few helpful tips:

•Give the speaker your full attention.

【小题2】 Turn off the TV, your phone, or computer. Watch your body language. The right listening body language communicates that we are listening openly and attentively, and puts the other person at ease.

•Be patient.

Not everyone is a gifted speaker. Some people take longer to find the right word to make a point. Others are too worried to get their message across properly. 【小题3】 It will help him/her speak more exactly and it will help you hear and understand better.

· 【小题4】

If what someone is saying creates an emotional response in you, make an extra effort to listen carefully. When we' re angry, frightened or upset, we often miss key parts of what is being said.

·Hold your fire.

Don't jump to conclusions immediately. 【小题5】 If you respond in a way that makes the other person defensive, even if you "win" the argument, you may lose something far more valuable.

Some people are naturally better than others at social activities. There are the lucky few that draw people to them without any effort. 【小题1】 Put yourself at ease and remember these tips:

Smile! A smile is understood in any culture and any age as a sign of friendship. So go ahead! It will put the other person at ease. You will seem approachable and happy.   【小题2】

Make eye contact. Good eye contact engages the other person to you. When you are introduced to someone, shake their hands and repeat their names. 【小题3】 Making eye contact shows you have confidence and shows you are interested in the other person.

【小题4】 Having a trusted friend next to you makes it less frightening to walk into a room full of people. But remember that even if you walk in as a pair, it doesn’t mean you just stick together the whole time. The point in a social gathering is you make friends with other people.

Go to social settings with a shared interest. For example joining an art class automatically puts you in a setting with other people you already have a common interest in. 【小题5】

Trying to find the perfect present is about as easy as trying to read someone’s mind. Few people will actually tell you what they want for a special occasion. So what to do? Here are some tips that could help.

Be honest-do you wait until the last minute to start looking for presents? While you are definitely not alone in this ritual, it is something you might want to try to change. Starting your shopping early can have a number of advantages, particularly when stocking up for holidays such as Christmas. If you plan in advance rather than last minute you can go shopping online which increases your gift buying possibilities as you’ll have time to factor in the delivery of the gift.

Now is the time to put your thinking cap on as you make a list. If you are lucky, you should be able to find a few good ideas in one of these lists. However, what if this list isn’t as helpful as you might have hoped? In this instance, write down different personality traits of the person you are shopping for. Then try to determine how to use this information to find a gift that is perfectly suited to them.

If you are still coming up empty, it is time to get creative. Often, the reason you get stuck for gift ideas is because you are restricting yourself too much. An example of being creative is to think about what your friend’s office looks like. This can give you lots of ideas to give him a gift for his workspace. In the end, it’s about finding something he can use every day, something he can really appreciate.

If a regular old present isn’t doing the trick, it may be time to think a little bigger. Instead of a physical gift, you can give someone an experience that they will never forget. You may be wondering what an “experience” means exactly. Well, it can be anything that will interest the recipient. If they are an adventurer, a local or foreign trip will be excellent. On the other hand, if they are a sports enthusiast, you can buy them tickets to a significant game.