Asking “and then what happened?” is the most underrated way to say “I care.”

Interest is shown by wanting the rest of it. Most conversations stop at the first answer, so somebody who asks for the next part is doing something unusual: handing the other person permission to keep going, which is what being listened to actually feels like. No special phrasing is required. The follow-up question carries the whole message.

Ask for the next part twice in one conversation this week instead of switching to your own story. Watch how much more you get told. It works on family too.