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"There is no denying that women have an edge in the listening category," says Audrey Nelson in her book You Don't Say: Navigating Nonverbal Communication Between the Sexes (p. 264). However, men have a responsibility as well—"sit face to face, make continuous eye contact, touch (if appropriate), and employ nonfluencies like 'uh huh' and 'umm' to indicate they are listening. They should also eliminate any props or barriers to listening, which means putting away the remote, turning off the game, or setting aside the newspaper," she adds.
On the other hand, while women appear to be the champions in the listening department, they still have some homework to do! They must be sensitive to a man's level of discomfort when they are actively listening! He may dislike all the attentiveness (face-to-face position, eye contact, touch); in fact, it can cause him to shut down. Women must be patient—involved, but not too intense. They can self-disclose, but shouldn't tell too much, too soon. It may overwhelm the man. Remember, he is wrestling with his own feelings, and he's listening even though he may not be maintaining eye contact. If he really appears distracted and tuned out, ask him, "Is this a good time for you? You seem distant." Giving attention is generally not a man's forte! (p. 265)
Source: You Don't Say: Navigating Nonverbal Communication Between the Sexes, by Audrey Nelson, 2004, New York: Prentice Hall/The Berkley Publishing Group (a member of Penguin Group (USA) Inc.).