Skip to content

ACCA Applied Knowledge · Business and Technology · Communicating in business

During a briefing, a manager nods, keeps eye contact, and later restates the speaker's main points in her own words to confirm she has understood them. Which listening technique is the manager mainly using?

The manager is paraphrasing. Restating the speaker's main points in her own words is an active listening technique that checks she has understood the message correctly, unlike selective listening, interrupting or preparing a rebuttal, which all reduce real understanding.

  1. AParaphrasing to check understandingCorrect
  2. BSelective listening
  3. CInterrupting to correct errors
  4. DPreparing a rebuttal while the speaker talks

Explanation

Restating the speaker's message in one's own words is paraphrasing, a core active listening technique that confirms understanding. Selective listening and preparing a rebuttal mean the listener is not fully engaging with the message. Interrupting to correct errors does not involve confirming the meaning.

Did you get it right without looking?

One question tells you little. A timed set on Communicating in business shows your real accuracy, how long you take and where you lose marks.

Practise Communicating in businessFree diagnostic mock

More Communicating in business questions