by Will Craig
We
live in a culture that supports the tennis-volley-approach to
conversation: 'You say something, and quickly, I say something next.'
This happens almost without pause or without us taking a breath.
We
are all guilty of formulating what we are going to say next, even
before the person speaking stops sharing their thoughts. What if the
words you did not speak were more powerful than the words you did
speak?
Here's a challenge for you:
Get comfortable with being still. Don't be afraid of silence. When you
get good at this, the quality of your coaching improves. Don't be
afraid of the struggle your client may be going through during the
silence in your coaching sessions.
Quiet moments provide the ideal environment for growth and insight.
Silence is where some of the best growth happens and when some of the
best insights appear that would have otherwise been missed during our
chatter.
Without
having to work very hard—and by just settling into the silence—your
client can suddenly leap into a new frame of mind. Perhaps this is all
they need to feel your time together has been well spent.
Silence is Golden
Building
on this same idea, the "silent words" you say to yourself are extremely
powerful. How might you benefit yourself and your clients with these
strategies? This week, turn silence into gold!
