Practicing the art of listening involves focusing on what aspects of communication?

Focusing on the speaker's words and their emotional tone is essential for effective listening because it allows you to fully understand the message being conveyed. Words provide the literal content of the message, while emotional tone gives insight into the speaker's feelings, motivations, and intents. This dual focus helps you connect more deeply with the speaker, fostering empathy and enhancing your ability to respond appropriately.

In contrast, only concentrating on the speaker's facial expressions or body language limits your understanding to non-verbal cues, which, while important, do not provide the complete picture. Anticipating what you will say next takes your attention away from the speaker entirely, detracting from the quality of listening. Therefore, integrating both the words and emotional tone allows for a richer and more comprehensive communication experience.