The message-receiving process includes listening, analyzing, and checking understanding. First you have to listen, as it is an important part of communications. Analyzing is the process of thinking about, decoding, and evaluating the message. As the speaker sends the message, you should be doing two things.

Use the speed of your brain positively by mentally repeating or paraphrasing, organizing, summarizing, reviewing, and interpreting what is being said often. Waiting to evaluate until after listening. You should first listen to the entire message without perception bias, and then come to your conclusions. Checking understanding is the process of giving feedback. After you have listened to the message (or while listening if it’s a long message), check your understanding of the message by doing two things.

Give feedback by paraphrasing the message back to the sender, and ask questions if you don’t understand something. Watching nonverbal behavior. As you speak, watch the other person’s nonverbal communication. If the person does not understand, clarify the message before finishing the conversation.