9 Psychological Effects You Can Turn To Your Advantage

2. Silence Is Golden

If you suspect you might not be getting the whole story out of someone, don't probe them for more information, just wait them out. People hate silences and will usually keep talking just to fill it. Don't worry about seeming obtuse, the chances are that the gap will be filled almost immediately. If you listen to most conversations, most people actually begin saying their bit before the other has finished speaking, so the chances of the person you're speaking to leaving any kind of long, awkward gap is pretty slim - they may even just carry on talking until you interrupt. This is actually a hugely important principle in medicine. By leaving space for silence when talking to patients, doctors can allow them to open up much more than if they had immediately followed up with further questions. This could throw up key information that might not have struck either doctor or patient as important.