The Power of the Pause

Have you ever been communicating with someone who was a “stingy contributor”? You try and try to draw them out, to engage them in the conversation, but it feels like pulling teeth? Perhaps you need to take advantage of this fact of human nature: most people are uncomfortable with silence.

When there is a pause in a conversation, people naturally long to fill the space. When you remain quiet, the other person is more likely to open up and share more (unless they are being purposely guarded.) The next time you’re not getting enough input from someone, ask yourself, “Am I giving them enough room to answer, or do I rush to fill the silence, and prevent them from answering?”

Every person has his or her own communication style and speed of processing. Remind yourself that the other person may just need a few moments to think, process and find the right words. By using the power of the pause, you respect the other person and you are more likely to get the information you want; a win-win situation!