It happens to me so often that I have to repeat myself because the other person wasn't listening and their mind was elsewhere. Maybe the other person's mind has simply drifted off, maybe they're in trouble. Or something has distracted them. But unfortunately it happens far too often: some people are simply bad listeners. 

I know how often it happens to me that people don't listen to me. But how often do I not listen myself? If I'm honest, it also happens occasionally that I don't concentrate on what the other person is saying to me. I was busy or just thinking about what I wanted to say next. Being a good listener means showing an interest in the lives of others, and only those who are interested in others will be respected by others. What's more, if you don't take the time to listen to what others have to say, you actually miss out on a lot of interesting things. We often miss out on important details, the names of new acquaintances or the time of a meeting. We miss out on information because we are too preoccupied with ourselves. 

Not everything is about yourself, it is important to share the messages of your fellow human beings and their problems or joys. How else do we expect others to listen to what we ourselves have to say?

Being able to listen makes friends; friends who can also listen to us when we need it. It may be difficult at first and you have to consciously concentrate on what is being said, but with practice it becomes completely natural over time.