It is human nature to be very self-aware. You have a natural concern for yourself, which is both a good and a bad thing. The problem is that most people in a conversation aren't even having a conversation. They are spitting out ideas at each other and fighting to talk. In the end, no one has really listened to the other, and that isn't really healthy.
I am truly appreciative of anyone who has ever just let me talk freely for the time I needed and I feel the need to apologize afterward. Sometimes you need a good listener when you want to vent, and you should be willing to do the same for others.
It is also important that in a condensed version of that, people in a short conversation should allow others to complete their thoughts and truly listen to them.
This idea of listening means more than shutting your mouth. It requires active listening where you are engaged and later on give some input.
Think of all the times that someone spoke to you and you really didn't process everything that was said and didn't ask any questions. You just moved on and spoke about what you wanted to talk about!
I'm not innocent of this of course, but it's a SKILL that people need to be made aware of. It helps others and yourself.
I feel the need to apologize after speaking my mind because it's often hard to find someone who will just listen. You are using up their precious time. So, I am inclined to feel bad, but I shouldn't.
I once took a class and there was a lesson focused on listening. There are actual tactics that can help you learn to listen better. These ideas came from a Ted Talk given by Julian Treasure.
The one thing that stuck to me, was listening to mundane sounds. It keeps your focus and grounds you a bit.
Two other methods that were super important, were absolute silence and the mixer. The first one is self-explanatory, but the other one is something that sounds counteractive. It asks you to place yourself in a loud location filled with different sounds and then trying to focus on each individual sound as at time (essentially identifying each sound).
Overall, my message is to be a good listener because you don't know how much that will help you be a better friend, employee, boss, and just a person. It will also help others in times that they feel like no one is listening. Silence your instinct to speak over others and really listen.
You'll be surprised to learn that you and I don't know everything!