The real challenge people have with the Active Listening Skills is using them without adding new content to the conversation.

Once the skills have been used to communicate understanding - and confirmation has been received that they heard correctly then, and only then, should any new information be introduced.

Your objective is to be a mirror.

You do this by simply repeating, paraphrasing, asking clarifying questions, and summarizing your understanding of what was said.

You do this without adding new content to the discussion until after you have first used one or more of skills to communicate that you have indeed heard correctly and the speaker indicates that you've got it right.