Giraffes aren’t very vocal creatures.  In fact, giraffes are often silent, and when they do vocalize, it’s quite quiet, like humming or snoring. I’m not suggesting you take up snoring at work (but humming could be okay).  What I AM suggesting is that there are benefits to being a little more silent and more selective about when and what we vocalize. I know this from experience.

Yes, I’ve been the person in the room who talks too much.  In fact, I grew up with “talks too much in class” on report card after report card. As an adult, I’m often told I have the gift of gab. Some have even told me that my ability to speak so easily is an asset. They are right … sometimes.

In graduate school I found myself wanting to answer professor questions. I squirmed every time a professor tried to generate class discussions, and the response was crickets … crickets … crickets. I wanted to fill the space, the dead air. The silence was unsettling for me. As a person who makes a living speaking, the silence bothered me. I knew what it was like to have an audience with low energy.  I knew the experience of asking a question and crickets … crickets … crickets. HOWEVER, I kept my mouth shut at times even though I thought I would explode. I took up less space so-to-speak. Thankfully, I also knew the importance of being more like a giraffe—being silent and selectively speaking.

Whether it’s during a meeting, a one-on-one conversation with a coworker, a networking event, or another type of interaction, it’s possible you should be vocalizing your thoughts, ideas, and opinions less often.  How do you know?

10 Signs You Should Vocalize LESS OFTEN

 

3 Tips for vocalizing LESS OFTEN

 

BE MORE LIKE A GIRAFFE.

To learn more:

Listening to Understand

Do Less Telling