Let There Be Awkward Silence
What is Awkward Silence?
An awkward silence is an uncomfortable pause in a conversation or presentation. The unpleasant nature of such silences is associated with feelings of anxiety as the participants feel pressure to speak but are unsure of what to say next. In conversation, average pause length varies by language, culture and context.
An awkward silence is an uncomfortable pause in a conversation or presentation. The unpleasant nature of such silences is associated with feelings of anxiety as the participants feel pressure to speak but are unsure of what to say next. In conversation, average pause length varies by language, culture and context.
The Value and Importance of Awkward Silence
Awkward Silence does not have to been so awkward... it has value and serves an important role in our lives and in the classroom.
We live in a world that demands instant gratification. We want things done immediately. But there's a major problem with all of this instantaneous communication: It doesn't leave time to think. That's right--think. As in, think critically.
Critical thinking calls for deep and careful consideration of a subject. It requires introspection and retrospection. It involves weighing and analyzing facts, and careful reasoning. And it results in making insightful connections. None of this is possible without time. And time has become the biggest luxury on the planet. But when you embrace the rule of awkward silence, you steal back time. Time that used to be wasted on nonsense answers. Time that used to be wasted on telling another person what you think they want to hear, as opposed to what you truly believe.
Once you practice it enough, you will no longer find the rule of awkward silence, well, awkward. Because while taking an extended pause to think things through may seem strange at first, you'll begin to realize many of the advantages it provides.
For example, the rule of awkward silence allows you to:
So, the next time someone asks you a challenging question, or even what seems on the surface to be a simple one, resist the temptation to respond with the first thing that comes to mind.
Instead, embrace the rule of awkward silence, and think before you speak.
Awkward Silence does not have to been so awkward... it has value and serves an important role in our lives and in the classroom.
We live in a world that demands instant gratification. We want things done immediately. But there's a major problem with all of this instantaneous communication: It doesn't leave time to think. That's right--think. As in, think critically.
Critical thinking calls for deep and careful consideration of a subject. It requires introspection and retrospection. It involves weighing and analyzing facts, and careful reasoning. And it results in making insightful connections. None of this is possible without time. And time has become the biggest luxury on the planet. But when you embrace the rule of awkward silence, you steal back time. Time that used to be wasted on nonsense answers. Time that used to be wasted on telling another person what you think they want to hear, as opposed to what you truly believe.
Once you practice it enough, you will no longer find the rule of awkward silence, well, awkward. Because while taking an extended pause to think things through may seem strange at first, you'll begin to realize many of the advantages it provides.
For example, the rule of awkward silence allows you to:
- Put the outside world on mute
- Exercise your thinking faculties
- Get to root problems more effectively
- Give deeper, more thoughtful answers
- Bring your emotions into balance
- Remain in harmony with your values and principles
- Say what you mean, and mean what you say
- Increase your confidence
So, the next time someone asks you a challenging question, or even what seems on the surface to be a simple one, resist the temptation to respond with the first thing that comes to mind.
Instead, embrace the rule of awkward silence, and think before you speak.
After having read all about Awkward Silence, explain the meaning that is being conveyed in this poster.