The Struggle with Silence
Communication is all about exchanging information from one person to the next. But sometimes we find ourselves transferring too much information in one go. Often, we forget to be silent.
Silence is a strange thing and for some it can be quite uncomfortable and awkward. So, we do our best to avoid it by filling it with the sound of our own voices.
We've all had those moments when you're presenting to a room full of clients, your mouth goes dry, your mind goes light and all you want to do is spout off everything you know about the project you're leading. As much as we think it'll make us look great, it does the complete opposite.
Silence is an understated part to communication and is just as important as verbal expression. It's the ying to the yang, the bread to the butter, the Ant to the Dec. This powerful tool gives people time to digest what you're saying. Whether you're in a presentation, an interview or just having a conversation, silence grips your audience and gives them time to absorb the information and engage with it.
In the modern world, silence is getting filled more than ever before. A study reported by Bruce Fell on The Conversation (2007-12) showed this struggle heightening. With media-generated background noise constantly surrounding us, we are becoming somewhat addicted to sound. Shockingly, one student from the study claimed, 'I actually began doing this assignment in the library and had to return to my room minutes later to get my iPod as I found the library was so quiet that I couldn't concentrate properly.'
Despite the continual noises that surround us (did you know the Latin root of noise means nausea and pain?), it is so important to find the time for silence in both our social and work lives. Not only is it a healthy part to living (people who live in loud environments experience elevated levels of stress hormones), but it is also an essential part to your working environment.
So, the next time you greet someone in a business meeting or finish your opening statement in a presentation, don't conform to the modern world and be afraid; relish in the moment of silence.