Talk less to get ahead at work

As someone who is 100% guilty of being an overtalker, this really hit home.?Whether it was a client call, an interview or a team meeting, my natural tendency to steamroll right through uncomfortable pauses and fill every empty space with words was compulsive and at times, problematic. I think my earliest patience score reading on Gong was something like 0.23 seconds (yikes). Slowing down, embracing silence, and really listening has been one of my greatest learnings - and greatest challenges - in my early days as a sales rep and leader. Thank you Dan Lyons for the making me feel seen (and heard, heyooo) and reminding me that silence is in fact golden. #overtalking #communication https://lnkd.in/duG46Wut

I did not know that overtalking (and by extension, mansplaining and manologues) is a condition hardwired in our DNA. Some fascinating facts from the article: ?? Traits like shy and extrovert are not the result of our environment – in fact, the design of our prefrontal cortex determines whether we're more shy or more talkative. ?? It's impossible to re-wire our brains, but there are mindfulness exercises that can help individuals become better listeners (and by extension, talk less). ?? If you're curious about where you sit on the talkative-ness spectrum, there's a Talkaholic Scale quiz developed by scientists (embedded in the article) #overtalking #brain #mindfulness https://lnkd.in/gsM5Gv4d

Do you know overtalkers at work or have them in other areas of your life??This is a really thoughtful and informative article on the “condition”. It gave me compassion and hope for individuals who are afflicted, and for the rest of us who are affected. These people can wreak havoc when they occupy senior positions of leadership, and control the narrative with a CEO / Board of Directors. This article, and Dan Lyons work, demonstrates that it is possible for these people to become conscious listeners and conscious speakers … but first they must acknowledge and own that they have a problem. And it’s an opportunity for CEOs and BoDs to constantly evaluate the executive leadership team (per my earlier post / HBR article that 30% of leaders are considered toxic), and take necessary action. In an era where Talent is leaving the workplace in droves, we need to create positive cultures that help employees grow and empower them to deliver results. I hope you’ll share this with people where it could make a difference. #toxicworkplace #toxicculture #talkaholics #leadership #ceo #governance #boardofdirectors #employeesatsurveys #turnover

Yes, I admit I am an overtalker! I believe silence is awkward and I get anxious with people who talk really slow. That's why when I bumped into this article, it got my attention - I just had to read it. One of my goals for this year is to talk less and to listen more. So far I've been taking courses and working on my communication, my speech and my writing. Good communication has always been important in my career, but I also need to work on my listening.? I just loved the way Dan Lyons wrote this article and also the way he assumed to be a talkaholic. With a little practice and consciousness, we can improve our communications skills even more by becoming better listeners. And as Dan mentioned, after doing that: "I feel calmer, less anxious, and more in control, which makes me less likely to overtalk. It’s a positive feedback loop: the less I talk, the less I talk". https://lnkd.in/dRcfnnHk

Most often executives feel that executive presence is about compulsive communication. People who talk less and their language is direct and succinct accompanied by facts, achieve more. So next time anyone tells you that you need to own the room by imposing your presence through non-stop talking, think again. #succinct #communication #talkless #achivemore #communicationcoach #lifeselfcoaching

This excerpt really spoke to me (pun intended). I like to think I'm a problem solver and have on way too many occasions, started thinking of a response or resolution before the person I'm talking to has finished. I blurt out my brilliant idea and it's not even close to what the person was looking for. Most of the time I'm told they just wanted someone to listen, not fix anything. Sitting and actually listening is something I work on a lot. That has definitely created those moments of awkward silence because I'm thinking through the conversation. So if we're ever having a conversation and I am silently staring at you, I'm not being weird (I'm weird enough without adding that to the list) or disinterested , it's because I actually care about what you're saying. https://lnkd.in/gxh-sUq3