The most common form of affirmation in feedback is the head nod, and many public speakers look for head nods (not to be confused with nodding off) as a way of judging the supportive mood of the audience. Other ways of affirming involve the use of the eyes. These are too subtle and individual to describe, but we each have a repertoire of signals to indicate such reactions as encouragement, surprise and understanding. When the eyes are part of a warm smile, there will be stronger reward to the talker. There are also words and phrases:

‘Really?’, ‘Go on . . . ’, ‘Yes . . . ’, ‘Of course . . . ’, ‘My word . . . ’, ‘You were saying . . . ’. LO1