Do You Shift or Support?

Every day we engage in conversation with friends, family, and strangers. How we relate to others says a lot about yourself. Listen closely to what you say and how-to response to people.

Do you Shift or Support? Beware of Conversational Narcissism.

A Shift response involves an attempt to guide the conversation toward your life, and away from the experiences of the person you’re listening to.

A Support response sets aside your ego, need for personal attention, and keeps the focus on the other person’s feelings and experiences.

Example:
You hear a person say: My Mom is so rude and never tells me thank you.
Your Shift response: I know how you feel my Mom was the same way.
Your Support response: I’m sad to hear that. What makes you feel that way?

A Support response builds empathy, compassion, and trust. Instead of using Shift responses such as “ I know how you feel ”, “ I’ve been though this myself”, or “I get it “, turn your responses into Support using these words, “ I’m sorry that happened to you”, “I can imagine how you may feel “, “Thank you for sharing this. Tell me more “.