Which technique is used to confirm understanding?

• A. Repeat Back
• B. Ignore
• C. Argue
• D. Shorten

Answer: (A)

Repeating back what you’ve heard is a practical way to confirm understanding. By paraphrasing the speaker’s message and asking for confirmation, you verify that you’ve captured the meaning and details accurately. This shows you’re actively listening and helps catch any miscommunications or unclear points before they cause problems. For example, if someone says, “Please have the final report by Friday morning,” you might respond, “Just to confirm, you’d like the final report by Friday morning, correct?”

Shadowing or restating is much more effective for clarity than ignoring the message, arguing, or shortening it. Ignoring misses important details, arguing shifts the focus to winning the debate rather than clarity, and shortening can leave out key information. Repeating back keeps the communication precise and lets the speaker confirm or correct your understanding.