Communication: The Power of Silence

Portfolio.com media blogger Jeff Bercovici recently attended a closed door panel which featured several TV News personalities, including Katie Couric. Couric's interview with then Vice-Presidential candidate, Sarah Palin, has often been called a major moment in the campaign in that it changed people's perception of the Republican.

During the session (I would include the link to Bercovici's blog post but it has been removed as the session was supposed to have had no media coverage.) Couric revealed that before the interview, she asked former senator Sam Nunn and Council on Foreign Relations president Richard Haas for advice. Among their suggestions was to let the governor speak at length without interrupting her.

This is a very good interview technique that plays upon our need to please people. When you answer a question and the interviewer doesn't say anything, you feel like you need to talk some more. It seems like the polite thing to do. But it can lead to you putting your foot in your mouth. Sure enough, in several cases, the more Palin tried to answer a question, the more she seemed to weaken herself.

What do you do if you're the interviewee and don't want to make a verbal goof? Don't say anything after you've made your remarks. Two people not talking doesn't make for dazzling news. Wait and you'll force the questioner to say something.

If you like this kind of verbal judo, you'll enjoy my free report on 7 Communication Mistakes that are Costing You Money.