Authentic listening involves much more than responding to the words that present themselves.  It is an intricate, complex system that is multilayered and much deeper than it appears on the surface. Here is a list of ten ways you can improve your listening:

• Understanding your body language and the body language of others.  This includes facial language.
• Understanding cultural expectations and practices.
• Reading between the lines.
• Developing your instincts.
• Consciously filtering out your biases.
• Understanding your patterns and the patterns of others.
• Asking useful questions.
• Paraphrasing.
• Navigating your emotions and recognizing when someone else needs to calm down and how to help them diffuse their emotions.
• Resist taking bait.

Each person in the communication exchange comes to the communication experience with an intricate web of belief systems.  No one has exactly the same experiences so communication can sometimes become a complex process. Therefore, in addition to navigating your own conscious and unconscious belief systems, you should be aware that the person you are communicating with has their own filtration system.  

One key to attaining a deeper level of connection through communication is the practical application of the knowledge that when you are communicating with someone, whether or not they are self aware, you need to be able to read beyond the surface.