When you talk, you want to be heard.  Right?  And don’t you just hate it when you tell a whole story and then find out the other person wasn’t listening?  I have been on both sides of this situation.

Not only is it respectful to listen when someone is talking but you gain credability because they know you will really listen, not just pretend to hear.   My parents try to listen when I tell my never-ending stories about my video games.  Since they really listen and not just hear, I feel able to talk with them more about everything.  Even if they get tired of hearing about the game and sometimes they don’t understand all the details, at least they listen.  In return, I try to listen to what they say.  I admit to sometimes not listening even when it is important but I am human and make mistakes just like everyone else. 

I feel when you pretend that you are listening, people don’t want to be around you.  Nodding your head to make it look like you are paying attention is just the same as lying.

So no matter who is talking, you should really listen, pay attention and not just hear them.   There’s a huge difference between listening and hearing.