Excerpt: 9 Steps to Third-Ear Listening

1. First, make a vow to yourself to be a better listener. That's a great start--simple but profound.
2. During conversations, listen for the content, meaning, and feeling in what the other person is saying. Stop interrupting!
3. Listen to understand, help, see, and support, not to comment, disagree, and find fault.
4. Allow moments of silence when the person finishes a thought to allow for further comment from the other person. Don't jump in!
5. Listen for what the other person is not saying.
6. Refrain from letting your past or your desire to "fix" the problem or concern get in the way of hearing the entire message.
7. Ask for clarification only when necessary.
8. If the conversation makes you angry or frustrated, keep telling yourself in that moment: "Focus on positive outcomes and expect success!"
9. Practice these techniques by telling the person you're having a conversation with to touch your arm every time he or she feels you've checked out of the conversation.

http://www.fastcompany.com/1844027/9-steps-finally-shutting-and-learning-listen