Sometimes the message is in the pause.
Pauses are meaningful.
If you think that the message is always in the words then the pause is meaningless and you could miss some important messages.
Imagine if you asked someone if they could help you with a project and they paused for ten seconds. If they were excited or enthusiastic about helping you there would be no pause.
I remember being asked in a shop if someone was looking after me. I was the only person in the shop besides the assistant. I paused. Another time I was depositing a small amount of money in my bank and was asked if I was interested in a housing loan. I paused.
If you listen carefully you may be able to paraphrase the pause. ‘Sounds like you have something else on…’. ‘Is that a NO?’
Try pausing yourself before making an important statement. Try pausing before making a commitment to make sure you mean what you are about to say.
Pauses are meaningful. Listen to them.
