Page 49 - Kindness - No Forward

Stop Talking….Make Yourself Listen

“He who does not understand your silence will probably not understand
your words.”
-Elbert Hubbard

Silence can serve as an effective tool for a speaker during a conversation,
a presentation, or even a speech.

It can be used to punctuate, emphasize, and when used effectively, can be
a strong tool to gain the attention of the listener.

In the last case, your silence actually makes the listener uncomfortable.
Most listeners tend to wonder about a period of silence, thinking things
such as “I wonder what he/she is thinking now?”

As the speaker during conversations, we can use silence to gain attention.
This is especially true when addressing two or more people. When your
audience is not paying attention, simply stop speaking while maintaining
your positive body language and eye contact. This generates the clear
message that you expect their attention before you continue speaking.

There is another good time to be quiet. It is when we don’t have anything
to say!

A brand new preacher was ready to deliver his first sermon when he
noticed that only one church member as present, a local farmer.

“I’ve prepared a sermon,” the preacher explained, “would you be so kind
as to listen to it and let me know how I do?”

The farmer responded, “I’m a farmer. I don’t know nothing about
preaching. But I do know that if it was time for all the cows to be fed, but
only one cow showed up, I’d feed it.”

Encourage, the minister began. And he concluded two and a half hell-fire
and brimstone-packed hours later. Then he asked the farmer’s opinion.

“I’m a farmer. I don’t know nothing about preaching. I do know that if it
was time for all the cows to be fed, but only one cow showed up, I’d feed it.

“But I’d be danged if I’d feed it the full load!”