Rephrasing someone’s statement to make them feel validated
People don’t just want to be heard, they also want to feel like what they’re saying is meaningful to others. One simple way to make someone feel validated is to rephrase what they just said. Even though you’re not committing to anything, your peer will feel like you appreciate them enough to listen.
You’ll find people with high social intelligence will apply this trick in nearly every situation. On average, those who socially validate others by listening and appearing to value their opinion have more meaningful relationships with their peers. You may need to expand your vocabulary, so you don’t sound like a condescending parrot.