Be comfortable with silence. Listen, and appear to be listening. (You may in fact be preparing your response on the inside, but your face and body should show

Be comfortable with silence. Listen, and appear to be listening. (You may in fact be preparing your response on the inside, but your face and body should show that you are listening.) When the other finishes speaking, pause to reflect. Whether you reflect or not is up to you, you might just be practicing your Clint Eastwood stare. After a pause, acknowledge what was said, briefly (without paraphrasing or rehashing, unless you want to be a politician), then speak, making your point briefly. Pause while you speak, speak slowly (but not so much more slowly than the general flow of conversation that it becomes noticeable in and of itself). These tips will give the appearance of consideration and engagement. The rest is up to you. Have something to say. If you don't, say nothing. Remember the Lesser Known Walken Principle: When I don't know what to do, I do nothing. (The Better Known Walken Principle is More cowbell. FYI.)