A #PAUSE has #POWER.
In Japan ๐ฏ๐ต after one person finishes #speaking, it is common to wait several seconds before the next person speaks. Japanese business professionals almost never speak over the top of one another.
• A PAUSE shows respect to the person who has just spoken.
• It allows what has been said to sit for a moment and be absorbed and considered.
• It gives people a chance to think before responding.
• Sometimes it's just a few seconds, sometimes it may go for 10 or 15 seconds.
• Japanese are very comfortable with this silence
When Japanese speak English they often bring this pause with them
English speakers are not so comfortable with this pause.
When helping Japanese professionals communicate in English I have to encourage them to reduce their pause, because if they do not, they often miss the chance to enter the conversation. Timing is always hard for learners of English and for Japanese especially, because out of politeness, they tend to defer to others and allow them to go first.
So if you want to hear more from your Japanese partners. Learn to embrace the pause and learn to call on your Japanese partners by name, to to create the timing for them to speak up.
"Tomohiro, how do you feel about X?"
"Masako, I would love to hear your thoughts on X.”
Some of your Japanese business partners may speak fluently, most won’t. With your encouragement and patience they will speak, and their ideas may just add the insight and perspective you are looking for.
Slow down. Take a breath. Embrace the pause, and see what magic happens.
In Japan ๐ฏ๐ต after one person finishes #speaking, it is common to wait several seconds before the next person speaks. Japanese business professionals almost never speak over the top of one another.
• A PAUSE shows respect to the person who has just spoken.
• It allows what has been said to sit for a moment and be absorbed and considered.
• It gives people a chance to think before responding.
• Sometimes it's just a few seconds, sometimes it may go for 10 or 15 seconds.
• Japanese are very comfortable with this silence
When Japanese speak English they often bring this pause with them
English speakers are not so comfortable with this pause.
When helping Japanese professionals communicate in English I have to encourage them to reduce their pause, because if they do not, they often miss the chance to enter the conversation. Timing is always hard for learners of English and for Japanese especially, because out of politeness, they tend to defer to others and allow them to go first.
So if you want to hear more from your Japanese partners. Learn to embrace the pause and learn to call on your Japanese partners by name, to to create the timing for them to speak up.
"Tomohiro, how do you feel about X?"
"Masako, I would love to hear your thoughts on X.”
Some of your Japanese business partners may speak fluently, most won’t. With your encouragement and patience they will speak, and their ideas may just add the insight and perspective you are looking for.
Slow down. Take a breath. Embrace the pause, and see what magic happens.
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