Acknowledging what people say is a way of showing that you are listening to them, that you care about their thoughts and feelings, and that you respect their opinions. It helps build relationships by creating a sense of trust, understanding, and empathy between the speakers.
Jesus the great teacher said “There is more happiness in giving than there is in receiving.”
This is true for both the giver and receiver.
There are different ways to acknowledge what people say, depending on the context and the purpose of the communication. Some examples are:
- Paraphrasing or summarizing what the other person said to show that you understood them and to check for any misunderstandings. For example, “So, what you’re saying is that you feel frustrated by the lack of feedback from your boss.”
- Asking open-ended questions to encourage the other person to elaborate on their points or to clarify something that you’re not sure about. For example, “How did that make you feel?” or “What do you think would be a good solution for this problem?”
- Expressing empathy or sympathy for the other person’s emotions or situation. For example, “I’m sorry to hear that you’re going through a tough time.” or “I can imagine how happy you must be after achieving your goal.”
- Giving positive feedback or praise for the other person’s achievements, efforts, or strengths. For example, “That’s amazing! You did a great job on that project.” or “You have a very creative way of thinking.”
- Showing interest or curiosity about the other person’s interests, hobbies, or passions. For example, “That sounds fascinating. How did you get into photography?” or “What do you enjoy most about playing guitar?”
Acknowledging what people say is not only beneficial for building relationships, but also for improving your own communication skills and learning new things. By acknowledging what people say, you can:
- Enhance your listening skills and pay more attention to the verbal and nonverbal cues of the other person.
- Develop your critical thinking and analytical skills by evaluating the validity and relevance of the information presented by the other person.
- Expand your knowledge and perspective by exposing yourself to different ideas, opinions, and experiences from the other person.
- Boost your self-confidence and self-esteem by expressing yourself clearly and respectfully.
Susan David Phd made some very valid points. She has said:
“So many people are going through challenging times right now and it’s really crucial that we develop the human skill set that enables us to be present with another person.
So firstly what we always want to do is acknowledge their feelings.
Simply feeling seen and heard de-escalates the intensity of the situation
#2 Acknowledgement reassures the person that their feelings are valid. Aa lot of times we get hung up on this. We think that by saying to someone “your feelings are valid” that we are agreeing with everything that they’re saying. But no. We’re just saying your experience is this and your feelings are valid and I see that.
And #3 is to help them feel valued. When we do this, when we offer someone presence, whether we are a leader or manager, a colleague or a parent. When we offer presence, we help the person feel grounded in the situation and to develop a sense of wholeness and agency as they move forward.”