PAUSE BEFORE REPLYING
When the other person stops talking, instead of immediately commenting, allow a silence to develop in the conversation. A brief silence of no more than three to five seconds gives you three advantages:
1. When you pause, you are telling people that you are carefully considering what they’ve said, which makes them feel more valued and respected.
2. When you pause, you avoid the risk of interrupting other people if they are just reorganizing their thoughts before continuing.
3. When you pause, you actually hear the other person’s meaning at a deeper level of mind. Remember, it is not only what people say, but what they don’t say that is essential to the message they are conveying.
The very best listeners practice the “art ...
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