Where your attention goes, will determine to a great extent people's perception of your gravitas. Give your total undivided attention. So the person who's speaking don't fit it. Don't fiddle. Don't plan your answer. Don't plan your shopping list.
Just listen. Don't interrupt or rush in. Wait till the other person has finished speaking before you step in. Better yet pause before you step in, show that you've thought about what they've said before you respond and in Someone else starts to speak over you. Quietly stop, give them your full attention. And they will know that you feel confident enough to give up law to them.
There's a secret to good listening. And in fact, there are three stages to create really good quality, high attention listening. And the first is to recognize that you have opinions, you have beliefs, you have values and you have prejudices. And as soon as I start speaking, your brain will want to filter what you hear from me through those beliefs and those ideas and those prejudices. As soon as you start doing that, you're not really hearing what I am saying, and understanding my point of view. You're thinking about yours.
So step One is to put yourself out of the way imagine as a kind of little mini version of you and relegate them to the corner of the room where they can't be heard. But there's still that little voice in your head. That little voice in your head will be thinking about the response that you're going to make. So imagine that voice in your head is controlled by a volume knob. Just imagine turning that knob down. And as you turn it down, my voice gets quieter.
Turn down the voice in your head until it goes off. Finally, as you're listening, be aware of your listening. Constant constantly check for signs of that voice in your head or those people needs forming and gently turn the voice down and nudge those opinions out of the way. High quality listening, giving all of your attention and focus to the other person and they will love you. People love people. Listen.
It's quality and a skill that you can develop.