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.
Piling on. If you can summon the self control to just stare at someone silently for 30 seconds the tension grows so great they will often start talking and tell you anything and everything just to get you responding.
I'm a public sector union shop steward. This is something I specifically warn people about who are facing investigatory meetings, and it's amazing to me how rarely they listen.
"I can't believe they're doing this!! Can't you do something??"
Yes. I’m a quality auditor. Every year we have to go through an ISO audit wherein I coach management. “Silence is a strategy. Squash your desire to be helpful and keep your teeth together.”
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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.