Everyone has moments where their thoughts drift away from the topic at hand, but there's a big difference between zoning out an endless phone rant from a friend and dismissing what could be important information during a work conversation. Sometimes we can get away with daydreaming during a larger meeting that doesn't pertain to us, but when you're having a one-on-one or smaller group meeting it's especially important that you're engaged and present.

Aside from missing out on crucial details and having to fill in the blanks on your own, you're also missing the opportunity to impress your colleagues and bosses with any smart contributions. Workplace consultant Gretchen Neels offered her tips to the Shifting Careers blog at the New York Times, and applying her tips could help you in the office and around your personal dinner table. Find out how to improve your listening skills when you .

Ms. Neels said that most people are unaware when they're pretending to listen [1], and notes that number six is particularly important in preventing others from thinking you're not listening.

1. Maintain good eye contact.
2. Sit or stand still without fidgeting. If you feel as if you may be losing concentration, shift around on your feet or in your seat, but try to do that while staying focused.
3. Try nodding your head or leaning in toward the speaker, both of which indicate to the speaker that you are listening, and also help you to stay engaged.
4. In a face-to-face or one-on-one situation, try “mirroring,” which means taking on the gestures of the speaker. So, for example, in an interview, if you are sitting across the table from someone and she leans her head to the right, you may try leaning your head to the left. While this might sound odd, apparently this kind of activity puts you into the same groove.
5. If you are on the phone and you are taking in a lot of information, periodically repeat or summarize the information you are hearing. If you’re not sure what is most important, you may want to recap what you have heard and ask for a clarification of anything you think you may have missed.
6. Do not interrupt, even if you think you’re going to forget what you want to say. If you fear you will lose a thought, carry a pad and paper and make a note so that you can come back to it. Interruption is not only rude, it can undermine everything you are trying to accomplish. And even if you are truly listening, interrupting will convey the impression that you are not.

Source [2]