From the the Huffington Post.
There are two kinds of responses in conversations: a shift response and a support response. The first response shifts attention back to yourself; the second supports the other person.
Always good to have examples!
Shift Response
How to Help a Grieving Friend
Mary: I’m so busy right now.
Tim: Me too. I’m totally overwhelmed.
Support Response
Mary: I’m so busy right now.
Tim: Why? What do you have to get done?
If you find yourself responding with a shift response, try to curtail that tendency. They’re a form of conversational narcissism and help you turn the focus back to yourself. A support response encourages your friend to continue their story.