5 Responses

1. A guiding hand

   Silence is a very useful auditing tool for use after asking a question. Silence after they give an answer puts a thought into the auditee’s head that they are missing something and usually prompts them to expand upon their thoughts.

   Ask a direct question to a delegate which requires more than a yes or no answer, let them reply then look at them as if you are expecting something else. It may work.

2. Power of Silence

   Great – this will work really well.  Simple and highly effective.  Many thanks.

3. Powertool

   Hi Heather,

   During my coach-training I have actually created a Powertool for coaches based on the Power of Silence. It is based on what the gentleman on this page has already advised you on, it just has a little bit more background information, research and different examples.

   Let me know if this is something you are looking for, I am more then happy to email it to you.

   take care!

   Marieke Kramer

    

    

    

    

4. Moments of silence in presentations
   If it’s pauses in presentations you’re seeking to achieve, I find playing Martin Luther King’s “I have a dream” speech.
   He gives a powerful demonstration of using pauses to get understanding and emotional response from his audience.
   —
   Natasha Goggin
   http://www.nxgdevelopment.co.uk

5. The power of silence in general (non sales) communications?

   Hello Heather

   I am an English language trainer working in industry and, for the past 20 years, have supported hundreds of clients in their daily work across the spectrum of business from marketing, through legal and safety to executive development and leadership.  I have observed that in an average discussion, most people begin to feel uncomfortable after four seconds of silence and thus break the silence. This means before they have really consciously thought through what they intend to achieve with their utterance. If you encourage your clients to exend their comfort zone gradually within the relevant situational context, you may find that their communicative effectiveness will increase dramatically.

    

   Richard JT