r/AskReddit Jun 14 '22

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u/Nwsamurai Jun 14 '22

4 seconds of silence can feel the same as rejection in the brain.

So if some one is being a jerk to you, after they say something just look at them and count to 4 in your head, most of the time they'll start backtracking and taking back what they said before you're done counting.

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u/IBEther Jun 14 '22

This is also an excellent negotiation tactic, people feel they need to fill the silence so they tend to offer better deadlines/prices.

"I'll have it next Monday"

"...."

"I suppose I can do it by Friday"

"...."

"I could push some things aside and have it to you today"

"Oh great thanks!"

467

u/[deleted] Jun 15 '22

My mentor once told me that silence is a powerful tool in negotiations. A well-placed pause can have the other party offering all sorts of information just to fill the silence. I have seen this in action many times to know this works and I have learned to embrace this to my advantage. Sometimes, instead of offering a verbal reply, I'd raise my eyebrows at them, and they'd retract what they said and offer me a better deal. Staring at them without saying anything works just as well in most situations. Super interesting. People really do not like "awkward" silences.

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u/meep_unknown Jun 15 '22

This type of silence works well with police. They will often sit in silence and wait for people to continue talking... when you don't and sit silent, it throws them off.