Listen without criticism

It is probably one of the hardest skills to master, but it is also one of the most important. Try to listen to what your partner is saying without jumping in and criticizing him or her. Just listen, and accept, and try to understand your partner´s point of view. When your partner is done, try to say back to him or her, "You are saying ZZZZZZ, yes?" without being critical or cynical.

You´ll find that just making that effort to understand and acknowledge your partner will make a huge impact on your ability to talk to each other.