Reference::
Listening is the single best thing you can do for your relationships. Why? Here are a couple of reasons.
Learning. You can learn from literally everyone because everyone has a unique perspective. Think about it, there are literally no two people that are the same. This means that everyone can tell you something new or interesting. If there's really nothing positive about the person you're talking to (which almost never happens), you can at least learn what not to do.
What to connect?
Persuasion/Influence. Listening increases trust, which in turn makes you more likable, and people say yes to those they like. If people like you, they're more likely to work with you, invest in you, buy from you, listen to you, etc.
Training/Motivation. Listen allows you to understand the person's needs which allows you to train or motivate them more effectively.
Therapy: The simple act of hearing them out is already healing. Why? You're not only gaining raw information about their needs but also making them feel heard, satisfying the self-protection ("someone cares for me"), affiliation ("I have someone to share my feelings with"), esteem needs ("I'm important to someone"). Further, you're allowing them to externalize their thoughts and feelings. Maybe it's the first time in their life that they've done it? Before they've been holding it in their heads for the whole time? This allows them to see their thoughts and emotions more clearly.
How to listen?
It comes down to being truly interested in what the other person has to say. If you have such an approach you'll naturally listen actively—asking relevant questions,
How do you know you've listened?
You can say you've really listened when you can rephrase what they've told you, including both their rational and emotional perspective. You know you got it, when you hear from them something along the lines of "that's right."
Relevant notes (PN: )
You can often influence someone with questions more than you can with words. With questions you can actually say more than with stating your opinions. Because smart questions you can guide the conversation and show how much you know. FleetingNote