Close Menu
    Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram
    • Our Story
    • Partner with us
    • Reach Us
    • Career
    Subscribe Newsletter
    HR KathaHR Katha
    • Exclusive
      • Exclusive Features
      • Research
      • Point Of View
      • Case In Point
      • Dialogue
      • Movement
      • Profile
      • Beyond Work
      • Rising Star
      • By Invitation
    • News
      • Global HR News
      • Compensation & Benefits
      • Diversity
      • Events
      • Gen Y
      • Hiring & Firing
      • HR & Labour Laws
      • Learning & Development
      • Merger & Acquisition
      • Performance Management & Productivity
      • Talent Management
      • Tools & Technology
      • Work-Life Balance
    • Special
      • Cover Story
      • Editorial
      • HR Forecast 2024
      • HR Forecast 2023
      • HR Forecast 2022
      • HR Forecast 2021
      • HR Forecast 2020
      • HR Forecast 2019
      • New Age Learning
      • Coaching and Training
      • Learn-Engage-Transform
    • Magazine
    • Reports
      • Whitepaper
        • HR Forecast 2024 e-mag
        • Future-proofing Manufacturing Through Digital Transformation
        • Employee Healthcare & Wellness Benefits: A Guide for Indian MSMEs
        • Build a Future Ready Organisation For The Road Ahead
        • Employee Experience Strategy
        • HRKatha 2019 Forecast
        • Decoding and Driving Employee Engagement
        • One Platform, Infinite Possibilities
      • Survey Reports
        • Happiness at Work
        • Upskilling for Jobs of the Future
        • The Labour Code 2020
    • Conferences
      • Rising Star Leadership Awards
      • HRKatha Futurecast
      • Automation.NXT
      • The Great HR Debate
    • HR Jobs
    WhatsApp LinkedIn X (Twitter) Facebook Instagram
    HR KathaHR Katha
    Home»Exclusive Features»Awkward silence, a leadership skill
    Exclusive Features

    Awkward silence, a leadership skill

    Liji Narayan | HRKathaBy Liji Narayan | HRKathaSeptember 16, 2020Updated:September 16, 20204 Mins Read18996 Views
    Share LinkedIn Twitter Facebook
    Share
    LinkedIn Twitter Facebook

    Sudden silence in the middle of a serious and important debate, can be quite uncomfortable. However, many leaders actually strategically plan such a prolonged pause. This requires skill too and emotional intelligence. After all, one has to pause at the right juncture. One has to know exactly when to stop speaking. Some thought has to go into creating a gap at the opportune moment, for others to fill, meaningfully, so that the discussion gets directed towards a logical and desired conclusion.

    Says Bhawna Kirpal Mital, general manager, human resources, Hero Future Energies, “I have certainly used this tactic to my advantage during presentations. It gives the attendees time to assimilate what I have said and ask relevant questions. This also propels the discussion towards a meaningful outcome.”

    Pooja Anand, head – human resources, India, IDC Technologies, rightly points out that different age groups react differently to a strategic pause in the middle of a discussion.

    Having worked in the HR domain for almost two decades and specialised in leadership hiring and campus hiring across levels, Anand has observed that the younger lot — those in the 18 to 25 age bracket — tend to use the pause to introspect and reflect.

    However, those in the 30 to 40 age bracket are the ones who are likely to come up with relevant questions and suggestions, viewpoints worth considering and even brilliant ideas.

    The more senior lot will delve into their treasure trove of experiences and fish out some incident related to the topic and try to apply it to the current situation.

    “The ones who speak the most after such an awkward silence are also the ones who are otherwise shy — the so called introverts,” observes Anand.

    Pooja Anand

    “A planned pause immediately after mentioning an interesting or key phrase, such as ‘growth opportunities’, can actually transform the passive listeners into active participants in no time, especially the younger lot.”

     

    Why is an awkward silence good?

    Not many people enjoy talking. Some are happy just listening. However, not even those who speak less can sit in a room with ten others in absolute silence. In a group, pin-drop silence can make those present feel very uncomfortable and anxious. Sooner or later, somebody will surely say something to break the silence, and that is exactly why the ‘awkward silence’ can be, and should be, leveraged.

    This kind of silence can force people to think, reflect, meditate and introspect.

    “A planned pause immediately after mentioning an interesting or key phrase, such as ‘growth opportunities’(in the case of the younger lot), can actually transform the passive listeners into active participants in no time,” explains Anand.

    She strongly believes that as an HR leader, opting to be silent in an emotionally charged moment helps one to look at the situation from a different perspective. It gives more clarity and helps one make a more informed decision.

    Bhawna Kirpal Mital

    “I have certainly used this tactic to my advantage during presentations. It gives the attendees time to assimilate what I have said and ask relevant questions. This also propels the discussion towards a meaningful outcome.”

    How can HR benefit?

    During interviews, if the interviewer opts for a prolonged silence, it really pays. In fact, the interviewer can actually take the reins of the conversation firmly in her/his hands by choosing not to speak at strategic points, and leaving it to the interviewee to fill in the gap. Opting to be an ‘active listener’ will not only cause the conversation to slow down a bit, but also force the candidates to keep talking and revealing more of their true nature.

    Even while dealing with employees who are anxious, upset or worried about something, HR can truly benefit from not speaking. Instead of directly attempting to resolve the issue, HR professionals may consider remaining silent and lending a patient ear. By doing so, they may actually allow the other person to hit upon a solution herself.

    Most successful leaders do not hesitate to take their time to reply. It allows them to measure their response. What finally leaves their mouths at the end of the ‘pause’ is worth the wait. Elon Musk and Steve Jobs are two of the best examples.

    It may not come naturally to everyone, but the truth is that by shutting up at the right time, one may actually open the doors to great deals or innovative ideas.

    awkward silence introspect pause prolonged silence in between a discussion
    Share. LinkedIn Twitter Facebook
    Liji Narayan | HRKatha

    HRKatha prides itself in being a good journalistic product and Liji deserves all the credit for it. Thanks to her, our readers get clean copies to read every morning while our writers are kept on their toes.

    Leave A Reply Cancel Reply

    18 − 5 =

    Related Posts

    How Raymond stitched tradition to transformation

    June 17, 2025

    Why career progression no longer needs a managerial badge

    June 16, 2025

    The truth about lies: Why résumé fraud has become an epidemic

    June 13, 2025

    Social media is showing Indian workers what they’re missing—and they want change

    June 11, 2025

    QUICK HR INSIGHTS

    EDITOR'S PICKS

    How Raymond stitched tradition to transformation

    June 17, 2025

    Why career progression no longer needs a managerial badge

    June 16, 2025

    The truth about lies: Why résumé fraud has become an epidemic

    June 13, 2025

    Redefining recognition: Why the future of HR leadership lies with rising stars

    June 12, 2025
    Latest Post

    ‘Beware of third-party handlers’: EPFO to subscribers

    News June 18, 2025

    The Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) has advised its subscribers to beware of third-party handlers.…

    Why are Genpact employees unhappy?

    Compensation & Benefits June 18, 2025

    Employees at Genpact are far from happy. And they have many social-media users expressing support…

    Pizza Hut gets Nazia Abidi as CPO

    Movement June 18, 2025

    Pizza Hut has found a new chief people officer (CPO) in Nazia Abidi. She moves…

    Gujarat boosts housing infrastructure for Tata’s semiconductor workforce in Dholera

    News June 17, 2025

    To support India’s first semiconductor fabrication facility being built by the Tata Group in Dholera,…

    Asia's No.1 HR Platform

    Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram LinkedIn WhatsApp Bluesky
    • Our Story
    • Partner with us
    • Career
    • Reach Us
    • Exclusive Features
    • Cover Story
    • Editorial
    • Dive into the Future of Work: Download HRForecast 2024 Now!
    © 2025 HRKatha.com
    • Disclaimer
    • Refunds & Cancellation Policy
    • Terms of Service

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.