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Could it be that the key to success at work is to say less and not more?
Experts say timely silences have become crucial for employees looking to exude confidence while maintaining good relationships with coworkers and/or clients.
Administrative assistant Joan Moreno is an employee who supports this trick and often believes that she should ‘shut up’ when she hears someone talking, according to her account. The Wall Street Journal.
A Texas trial lawyer named Jefferson Fisher also implements this tactic by pausing for 10 seconds in court and letting your breath be “the first word.”
While it is not advisable to remain completely silent throughout the workday, there are some times when silence is golden and can help workers move up the career ladder.
Staying silent at work is essential for employees who want to make a good impression or get ahead at work.
Calm during negotiations
Timely silences can help during negotiations
One expert advised employees to shut up after suggesting a deal during a negotiation, rather than rambling on.
Daniel Hamburger, former CEO of educational and health technology companies, recalled once doing this during a meeting while speaking to The Wall Street Journal.
Hamburger explained that an executive at a company he wanted to acquire was convinced that it was worth more than what the businessman was offering.
Despite wanting to explain the math behind the acquisition, all Hamburger did was suggest a number, remain silent, and ultimately close a deal with the executive.
He also uses the tactic of posing questions to his team when asked to make a decision.
“People were like, ‘Really? “Are you really asking?” Hamburger said.
He added that his silence again paid off and employees completed a 50-page presentation for the project the next day.
Make space for a quiet moment
Experts insisted that employees organize quiet moments at work to help them concentrate and make good decisions.
Communication is necessary and expected between co-workers and with superiors, but there is a time and place for it.
“Our method of connecting, and we crave it, is to talk,” psychology professor Robert N. Kraft told The Wall Street Journal.
However, he and his students discovered that they can bond better with their peers if they communicate without words.
Most workforces don’t care for employees to remain silent all day, but a few minutes of quiet can be crucial to a well-balanced day.
“Thinking should always come before speaking or doing, but it’s nearly impossible when professionals don’t intentionally spend time doing it,” said Joe McCormack, founder of The Quiet Workplace. YSF Magazine this year.
‘Silence does not mean the literal absence of sound. Rather, it’s about setting aside time each day to focus, plan, work deeply, and make smart decisions.’
Draw questions
Expert Advised Employees to Pause While Talking Using ‘Question Mark Trick’
Former actor turned GK Training CEO Michael Chad Hoeppner advised employees to silently draw question marks as a reminder to take breaks while speaking.
Hoeppner draws a question mark in the air after asking a question out loud.
This simple question mark trick is what quietly got him through parties and board meetings.
“That question mark is there to help you live through that tense moment when you say, ‘I really should keep talking,'” Hoeppner said.
Calm down before big meetings
Meditation and other breathing exercises can help create a sense of personal calm before high-pressure meetings.
Financial advisor Kyler Spencer recalled times when he struggled to get through meetings that lasted too long or were unsuccessful.
Once he realized it was time for a change, he implemented methods to help him relax and remain calm in meetings, according to The Wall Street Journal.
He began meditating and doing breathing exercises, which calmed his nerves and helped him stop talking a minute or two after meetings.
Since then, his successful meeting preparations have led to a long list of clients, along with client referrals.
Shannon Palus, Features Editor BoardHe also praised meditation and revealed that applications can be used to implement this technique.
“In nervous times, it can be helpful to hear a familiar voice,” he wrote last year.
The five second rule
More than one expert insisted that the five-second rule can help when it comes to getting through meetings
The five-second rule could be a good solution for those trying to introduce small pauses into their speech.
An example for someone is to wait at least five seconds after asking, “Do you have any questions?”
If it’s still uncomfortable, taking a sip of water could ease the tension in the boardroom.
“The five-second rule can help you stay silent at work by creating a conscious pause before speaking, allowing you to think before reacting and potentially avoiding unnecessary chatter or interruptions,” Mel Robbins said during a conference. . podcast episode.
“Basically, by mentally counting ‘5-4-3-2-1’ before speaking, you give yourself a moment to decide whether or not you need to intervene.”
Create other methods of communication.
Other forms of communication, such as phone or email, can help introverted employees.
Employees who prefer not to talk can use other forms of communication such as Slack or email.
Organizing a written message can help workers get their points across effectively, without speaking at all.
“Businesses have to face the reality that modes of communication change and management must adjust accordingly,” said business efficiency expert Andrew Jensen. SHRM regarding texting at work.
He added that it is not always the best method of communication and that employees should be careful about what they say.
“You can text someone and say, ‘Hey, we don’t need you today, so don’t come in,'” Jensen said.
But you shouldn’t send text messages saying, “We don’t need you anymore, don’t come back.” Never text bad news like that.
