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This Week in the World
The Power of Silence
Saying so much about so little
Have you ever thought about why you talk? One PowerPhrase Principle is that PowerPhrases are targeted. You decide what you want your words to accomplish and choose your words accordingly.
Trainers will tell you that men tend to communicate to relay facts and women tend to communicate to connect and relate. But what if the facts have been relayed and the connection is solid? What then?
How about silence?
Chatter dilutes and drowns out substantive communication. If you don’t have anything to say, why not say the most powerful thing of all? Why not say nothing?
What a concept - only speak when you have something to say
I think of my father – a great man who is also a man of few words. He doesn’t speak much – but when he does, people listen. We listen because we know he wouldn’t be speaking if he didn’t have something to say.
People who are comfortable with themselves and each other are also comfortable with silence. They may speak to convey information and they may speak to convey heartfelt emotion. What they don’t do is speak to fill silence.
The purpose of words is to create silence. Not the silence of suppression. Not the silence of the lambs. The silence of completion.
Words well spoken
I had the most wonderful week hosting a man who has much to say. You can hear a few of his words here.
I am left with the sweet feeling that comes from hearing so many words of wisdom. Now I feel pulled to sink into silence.
I will be speaking again soon. I have some TeleSeminars up my sleeve. Stay tuned.
This Week in the World comment
“Silence is as deep as eternity, speech as shallow as time.” — Thomas Carlyle
PowerPhrase of the Week
Sweet silence
Poison Phrase of the Week
Empty conversation, nervous chatter
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Reader Success Story
Transition time
My husband likes to talk when he gets home from work. Often he'd start telling me all the things that happened the second I walked in the door. While I like to be available for him to talk to, I found it overwhelming, especially when he had a bad day.
I asked him for a half hour of silence, and he agreed. I told him while I wanted to hear about his day, I would be able to pay better attention if he gave me some transition time. What a difference. We were both surprised to find that after that half hour, not only am I more ready to listen, he is calmer and easier to listen to. What a blessing. I'm glad I spoke up and asked for the silence I need to be able to listen.
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321 August 21, 2008 |
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To express yourself both powerfully &
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to say what you mean,
mean what you say,
without being mean
when you say it.