It could seem more difficult for you to get your ideas across effectively to other people today, which may leave you feeling misunderstood. If you start to feel frustrated or maybe even disappointed when others misinterpret your ideas, you can try to smooth things over by using active listening to help you. Active listening is a tool you can use to make certain that others understand what you say. When you feel that your ideas aren't fully grasped, you can simply repeat what the other person has said in order to confirm what you have heard. Not only can active listening make it easier for you to see if your ideas are fully taken in, but it could also give someone else an idea about the role their own understanding plays in the communication process.

Asking others what they have understood is an effective way to ease any communication challenges we have. Often the main problem in our interactions is the way in which our message has been interpreted. When we make the conscious effort to determine how we have been heard, we are able to better realize the ways in which our message was received and our own role in miscommunication. Using active listening is a discreet and unobtrusive way to gain clarity in our interactions, since it is a reflection of the interpretation of our message by someone else. By listening more actively in your communications today, your interactions will become smoother and you will achieve a greater understanding of how your communication style is construed by others.