Could it be that the key to success at work is saying less rather than more?
Experts say that well-timed silences have become crucial for employees who want to project confidence while maintaining good relationships with colleagues and/or customers.
Administrative assistant Joan Moreno is one employee who supports this trick and often feels like she should shut up when she hears herself talking, according to The Wall Street Journal.
Jefferson Fisher, a trial attorney from Texas, also uses this tactic by pausing for ten seconds in the courtroom and letting his breath be “the first word.”
While it is not advisable to remain completely silent throughout the workday, there are times when silence is worth its weight in gold and can help employees climb the career ladder.
Staying quiet at work is essential for employees who want to make a good impression or get ahead at work
Be quiet during negotiations
Well-timed silences can help during negotiations
An expert advised employees to remain silent after proposing a deal during a negotiation, rather than ramble on.
Daniel Hamburger, a former CEO of technology companies in education and healthcare, recalled a time he did this at a meeting while speaking to The Wall Street Journal.
Hamburger explained that an executive at a company he wanted to acquire was convinced it was worth more than what the businessman had to offer.
Despite wanting to explain the math behind the takeover, Hamburger merely suggested a number, kept quiet and ultimately struck a deal with the director.
He also uses the tactic of asking questions of his team when asked to make a decision.
‘People said, “Really? Are you really asking that?” Hamburger said.
He added that his silence again paid off and employees completed a 50-page pitch for the project the next day.
Make room for quiet time
Experts urged employees to organize quiet time at work so they can concentrate and make good decisions
Communication between colleagues and with superiors is necessary and expected, but there is a time and place for it.
“Our method of connecting – and it’s what we crave – is to talk,” psychology professor Robert N. Kraft told The Wall Street Journal.
However, he and his students discovered that they can build better relationships with peers when they communicate without words.
Most employees aren’t interested in employees staying quiet all day, but a few minutes of silence can be crucial to a balanced day.
“Thinking should always come before speaking or doing, but it’s nearly impossible if professionals don’t intentionally make time for it,” says Joe McCormack, founder of The Quiet Workplace. YSF magazine this year.
‘Silent does not mean the literal absence of sound. Rather, it’s about making time every day to focus, plan, do deep work, and make smart decisions.”
Draw questions
An expert advised employees to take breaks while speaking, using a ‘question mark trick’
Former actor and 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 has quietly gotten him through parties and board meetings.
“That question mark is there to help you get through that charged moment of, ‘I really need to keep talking,'” Hoeppner said.
Calm down before big meetings
Meditation and various 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, which could be long or unsuccessful.
Once he realized it was time for a change, he implemented methods to help him relax and stay quiet during meetings, according to The Wall Street Journal.
He started meditating and doing breathing exercises, which calmed his nerves and helped him stop talking for a minute or two during meetings.
His successful meeting preparations have since led to a long client list, along with client referrals.
Shannon Palus, a features editor for Slatealso praised meditation and revealed that you can use apps to implement this technique.
“In moments of nerves, it can actually help to hear a familiar voice,” she wrote last year.
The five-second rule
More than one expert emphasized that the five-second rule can help get through meetings
The five-second rule could be a good solution for those trying to inject small pauses into their speech.
An example of this is someone waiting at least five seconds after asking, “Do you have any questions?”
If it’s still uncomfortable, taking a sip of water can ease tension in the boardroom.
“The five-second rule can help you stay quiet at work by creating a conscious pause before you speak so you can think before you respond and potentially avoid unnecessary chatter or interruptions,” Mel Robbins said during a conversation. podcast episode.
“By counting down ‘5-4-3-2-1’ in your head before you speak, you essentially give yourself a moment to decide whether you should intervene or not.”
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.
The organization of a written message can help employees get points across effectively, without talking.
“Companies must face the reality that the way they communicate is changing, and management must make adjustments accordingly,” says business efficiency expert Andrew Jensen. SHRM about texting at work.
He added that this is not always the best method of communication and that employees should be careful what they say.
“You can text someone and write, ‘Hey, we don’t need you today, so don’t come in,'” Jensen said.
“But you shouldn’t text: ‘We never need you again, don’t come back.’ Never send such bad news.”