By Daily Mail (U.S.) | Created at 2024-09-26 15:53:44 | Updated at 2024-09-30 19:37:40
4 days ago
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 looking to radiate confidence while maintaining good relationships with co-workers and/or clients.
Administrative assistant Joan Moreno is one employee who supports this trick, and often believes she should 'shut up' when hearing herself talk, according to The Wall Street Journal.
A Texas trial lawyer named Jefferson Fisher also implements this tactic by pausing for 10 seconds in court and letting his breath be 'the first word.'
While remaining completely silent during the entirety of the workday is not advisable, there are some moments when silence is golden, and can help workers climb the career ladder.
Staying quiet at work is essential for employees who wish to make a good impression or get ahead at work
Quiet down during negotiations
Well-timed silences can help during negotiations
An expert advised employees to quiet down after suggesting a deal during a negotiation rather than rambling on.
Daniel Hamburger, a former chief executive in education and healthcare technology firms, recalled a time he did this during a meeting while speaking with The Wall Street Journal.
Hamburger explained that an executive from a company he wanted to acquire was convinced 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, keep quiet, and eventually complete a deal with the executive.
He also uses the tactic of posing questions back at his team when he's asked to make a decision.
'People were like, "Really? Are you really asking?,"' Hamburger said.
He added that his silence paid off again, and employees completed a 50-page pitch for the project the next day.
Make room for quiet time
Experts insisted employees organize quiet time at work to help them them focus and make good decisions
Communication is needed and expected among co-workers and with superiors, but there is a time and place for it.
'Our method of connecting - and we crave it - is talking,' psychology professor Robert N Kraft told The Wall Street Journal.
However, he and his students discovered that they can bond better with peers if they communicate without words.
Most workforces aren't interested in employees staying silent for an entire day, but a few minutes of quiet time could be crucial in having a well-balanced day.
'Thinking should always come before speaking or doing, but it's nearly impossible when professionals don't intentionally make time for it,' Joe McCormack, founder of The Quiet Workplace told YSF Magazine this year.
'Quiet doesn't mean the literal absence of sound. Rather it's about setting aside time each day to focus, plan, do deep work, and make smart decisions.'
Draw questions
An expert advised employees to take pauses while speaking, using a '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 helped him get through parties and boardroom meetings.
'That question mark is there to help you live through that fraught moment of, "I really should 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 would either last long or be unsuccessful.
Once he realized it was time for a change, he implemented methods to help him relax and stay quiet 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 into meetings.
His successful meeting preparations have since led to a lengthy client list, along with referrals from customers.
Shannon Palus, a features editor for Slate, also praised meditation and revealed that one can use apps to implement this technique.
'In moments of nerves, it can just be helpful to hear a familiar voice,' she wrote last year.
The five-second rule
More than one expert insisted the five-second rule can help when trying to get through meetings
The five-second rule could be a good solution for those trying to inject small pauses into their speech.
One example for someone is to wait at least five seconds after asking, 'Do you have any questions.'
If it's still awkward, 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 preventing unnecessary chatter or interruption,' said Mel Robbins during a podcast episode.
'Essentially, by counting down "5-4-3-2-1" in your head before speaking, you give yourself a moment to decide if you need to interject or not.'
Create other communication methods
Other forms of communication like phone or email can help introverted employees
Employees who prefer not to speak can use other forms of communication like Slack or email.
The organization of a written message can help workers get points across effectively, while not talking at all.
'Companies have to face the reality that modes of communication change, and management needs to make adjustments accordingly,' business efficiency expert Andrew Jensen told SHRM regarding texting at work.
He added that it's not always the best communication method, and that employees must watch out for what they say.
'You can text someone and write, "Hey, we don't need you in today, so don't come in,'" Jensen said.
'But you should not text, "We don't need you ever again, don't come back." Never text bad news like that.'
