Uh Huh....

According to Understanding Human Communication 9th Edition textbook (page 143, chapter 4-listening), Prompting is considered one of the important elements in emphatic listening, which to me, is very interesting fact to know that. I do not know that by just 'uh huh, oh i see, etc' could actually helps a person out; to solve his/her problem. Though other elements of emphatic listening are just as important, but most of them uses long explanations and sentences to tell the other person that 'I am listening to you'. Right? That's just my opinion, though. Prompting of course, is used 'when you can't help others to make a decision'. In some cases, there are certain things you must know when you are trying to help a person out; make sure you give your opinion and advices by weighing both strengths and weaknesses of the choices or dilemmas your friend is having. Do you realize that when some of your friends ask an opinion of choosing something (for example a course), you will tend to give one sided-opinion. Notice this type of conversation:

A: Hey B, i don't know which to choose. This course or that course?
B: Hmm...oh well, what do you think?
A: This course's interests me but i'm afraid of the bad side. I like that course which gives an advantage in my future career, but i don't really into that course's contents. So, how? What do you think?
B: Well, why don't you just try B? I think B is good because..bla...bla...bla.......Oh well, i don't really know. You choose what do you think you like.
A:.....I don't know..

Sometimes, you can see whether is it suitable for you to give an opinion or better to let them decide by themselves.

A: Hey B, i don't know which to choose. This course or that course? Each of them has their own goods and bads.
B: Uh huh.
A: This course's interests me but i'm afraid of the bad side. I like that course which gives an advantage in my future career, but i don't really into that course's contents. So, how? What do you think?
B: Hmm, i see. Well, what do you think?
A: This course, you see, really nice, it provides bla..bla..bla......but, oh...i don't know. Many people said A isn't good. So how?
B: I'm not sure too. But make sure you think carefully which to choose.
A: Hmm...
A: I think i will choose this course.
B: Really?
A: (silence) Yeah, i will choose this course. I don't want to later regret about it; who cares what other people think, right?

However; becareful of selecting your prompting usage (mechanical prompting):

A: Hey B, i don't know which to choose. This course or that course? Each of them has their own goods and bads.
B: Uh huh.
A: This course's interests me but i'm afraid of the bad side. I like that course which gives an advantage in my future career, but i don't really into that course's contents. So, how? What do you think?
B: Uh huh.
A: This course, you see, really nice, it provides bla..bla..bla......but, oh...i don't know. Many people said A isn't good. So how?
B: Hmm..
A: So, what do u think? This or what?
B: Hmm......
A: (angry) You know what? I better ask a wall's opinion than asking you! (Walks away)
B:(huh?) What have i done?

By letting people deciding on their own, (nope, it doesn't really make you an irresponsible person though) you will make people have their confidence in deciding their own choice and take responsibility in what they have chosen. People who generally made their own decision do not regret of what they have chosen, because they know it's their own choice. (They can't really blame other people, right?=D) In short, you made them think for themselves.And most people who made their own decisions are less stressful and more happier.

Liew Hui Qing, Jaime