Describe the best listener you've ever talked to. What did being on the receiving end feel like?

A natural way to answer

A former mentor of mine. He had this knack of giving you his full attention — no interrupting, no jumping in with his own story. He'd just let a pause sit so you could finish your thought. Being heard like that is surprisingly rare and oddly moving.

Key phrases to use

• hang on every word — listen with total, rapt attention“The kids hung on every word of the story.”
• spill your guts — tell someone all your private thoughts and feelings“I ended up spilling my guts to a stranger.”
• give you their full attention — focus completely on you with no distractions“She put her phone away and gave me her full attention.”