In the book Leader Lab: Core Skills to Become a Great Manager, Playback is listed as one of the simple habits they found that successful leaders use. 

So what is a Playback?

In its simplest terms: A Playback is a paraphrase of what you heard someone say. 

So repeating back in your own words what someone said.

Seems kind of mind-numbingly simple, but you would be surprised (or maybe not) how often people assume that everyone filters information the same, or are too conflict-shy to ask if everyone has the same understanding of what was just said.

Three reasons why you should adopt Playbacks in your communication as a leader.

1. Playbacks create clarity faster.
   When someone approaches you with a problem, their thoughts are often a tangled web. Playback is a quick way to ensure that you understand their issue. When people hear their own words played back to them, it helps them to simplify the complexities of their thoughts.
2. Playback catch misunderstandings faster
   It is an effective way of preventing misunderstandings. If you hear an incorrect playback, there is a chance to fix it before it becomes a problem.
3. Playback builds trust faster
   It provides instant confirmation of understanding. This leads to faster trust-building, which leads to people being more willing to share their thoughts and feelings.

Using Playbacks in Action

The Leader Lab identifies different types of Playbacks, and you can use different types for different circumstances.