Listening is a skill that nobody teaches. It sounds easy, but even if you are quiet in that moment and don’t interrupt the other person, check how you are internally trying to have your answers or your opinions ready and waiting for your time to talk.
Even if I know that, I catch myself still a lot already thinking about a response or having an opinion about a sentence pops up.
So the next time you listen to someone try to listen without judging, try to listen without thinking already about a response, try to listen empathically and also try to understand what the other person means. If you still don’t get it don’t be afraid to ask.
A book recommendation about this topic is Nonviolent Communication: A Language of Life: Life-Changing Tools for Healthy Relationships