Excerpt from the Elusive Obvious

By Michael Grinder

Pattern 21. Pause and Look Intelligent

The patterns of pausing and looking intelligent are closely connected. Why is this so? Simply stated, to be seen as intelligent in the Western European cultures, the communicator must have the ability to pause.

The Pause

Research indicates that non-verbal communication is more influential than verbal communication. Mark Twain was correct when he said, “No word was ever as effective as a rightly timed pause.”

The pause is the single most essential non-verbal signal.

Read more from this article at http://nsaconvention.org/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=0Wp9jIrM3kQ%3d&tabid=970&mid=2070. And register for the 2010 NSA Convention July 17-20 at the Orlando World Center Marriott to see Michael’s presentation on The Power to Inspire: The Non-Verbals of Dramatic Presentations.

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