Using Silence to Conserve Your Power in a Conversation
In this German‑language coaching monologue, Shanli Liu, CPA, CTP, explains how silence can be leveraged to maintain power and control during conversations and interviews. She argues that speakers often feel compelled to fill pauses, mistakenly believing they must keep the dialogue flowing. Liu advises listeners to resist this impulse, recognize that the other party has the right to ask follow‑up questions, and become comfortable with silence. She recommends deliberately waiting 3–5 seconds after a pause to see if the interlocutor has more to say, without taking responsibility for continuing the exchange. By allowing silence to serve its purpose, the speaker preserves the opportunity for genuine connection and retains authority in the interaction.
