“Silence is a source of great strength.” – Lao Tzu
Some say silence is golden. Others tell you to speak your mind. A crafty business person knows the appropriate times for each. It is important to know when to speak up, when to pipe down, and when brevity can be your best friend.
Know When to Say Nothing and When to Speak Up
Business communication takes many forms – written, spoken, electronic, etc. – and it takes a great deal of experience and careful maneuvering in order to navigate each platform effectively. Every method of communication has its own intricate set of rules (best practices), but some rules, especially those un-written rules we alluded to in our title, can apply to almost every platform.
“Silence is a true friend who never betrays.” – Confucius
Business’ Unwritten Rule of Communication: Know When Silence is Your Best Option
In today’s Information Age, also known as the Computer Age, Digital Age, or New Media Age, we are more interconnected than ever before. Technology has made it possible to communicate with one another at the push of a button, whether online on the phone. While incredibly convenient, this newfound level of interconnectivity has made the human race incredibly impatient. We want information and we want it now. This is why the Internet has overtaken the newspaper as our source of current events and why email has all but replaced the written letter. This is also why long-winded communication is a thing of the past.
In certain situations, talking too much – rambling on – can negatively impact your stance. You know they type of person we are talking about. They just go on and on and on until you zone out and stop paying attention to what they’re saying. The same holds true for written communication as well. It is easy for your message to get lost or even completely ignored in a long email. In both scenarios, the message is not effectively communicated.
“Brevity is the soul of wit.” – William Shakespeare
In today’s Information Age, we are bombarded with communication almost constantly – telephone calls, email, Facebook, Twitter, and, of course, in-person conversations. We are expected to process and analyze more information than ever before and, as a result, we are rarely ever able to give one person our undivided attention for very long. So, as they say, get to the point.
The more efficiently you can convey your message, the more receptive people will be. This holds true for in-person conversations, as well as phone calls and email. Keep it simple, keep it brief, and keep your recipient’s attention. This same principal can apply to the interview process as well.
The Key to Better Job Interviews is Brevity
“It is my personal experience that those candidates who talk the most are those who have the least to say,” explains Philip Dixon, director at Gecko Recruitment in Sydney, Australia.
As with any form of communication, get to the point. Very rarely are hiring decisions made immediately after an interview. Your goal as an interviewee is to make a lasting impression. This is most effectively done by giving answers that are short on length, but full of meaning.
“Keep it concise, relevant, and interesting,” adds Dixon.
If you keep talking just to fill the silence, you could be talking yourself right out of a job.
Are these all communication skills you have mastered? If so, you are exactly what we are looking for! Please call us at 410-296-0655 to discuss your staffing needs and/or career opportunities. You can also sign up for our free newsletter here! You can also click here to learn more information as well. And don’t forget to follow us on Facebook, Pinterest, LinkedIn, and Twitter today!
About Mary Kraft – Staffing and HR Solutions
Mary Kraft Staffing was founded in 1989 and has since partnered with industry-leading healthcare, financial, commercial and service industry clients to increase productivity and drive cost savings through an array of flexible, cost-effective staffing and outsourced HR options.
