Becoming a Better Listener, Part 3

Here are some additional tips for active listening.  Realize that restating what the speaker has said indicates you've heard them.  But what if they say something negative?  Do you want to repeat that verbatim?  I don't think so.  You want to put a positive spin on what they’re saying, so while you let them know that you heard it, you should also let them know it might not be a completely negative thing.