Which communication technique is used to show you are listening and to encourage the speaker?

• A. Echoing
• B. Reassurance
• C. Summarization
• D. Nonverbal Communication

Answer: (A)

Echoing is a key active-listening technique: it involves repeating or paraphrasing what the speaker has just said, sometimes quoting a distinctive phrase. This shows you are really hearing them and invites them to expand on their thoughts or feelings. By reflecting their words back, you provide validation and a cue for the speaker to continue sharing, which deepens understanding and builds trust.

Reassurance aims to comfort or ease concern, but it can inadvertently shut down further discussion if it minimizes the issue. Summarization is useful for recapping main points, yet it’s typically used to close a segment rather than to prompt ongoing dialogue. Nonverbal cues support listening, but the specific act of reflecting the speaker’s language is what most directly communicates active listening and encourages more sharing.