Stop Talking Before Others Stop Listening

Einstein showed that time is not absolute, and that time varies depending on how fast you are moving. But - obsessed as he was with science - the great man narrowly missed discovering a scientific principle that has a much greater impact on your life, especially at work. It is:

When you are talking, time moves faster than when you are listening.

Ask any speaker how long it feels like to deliver an hour-long presentation. The answer: about 17 minutes.

You have no doubt experienced the opposite effect. Think of your boss or CEO going on and on about leadership blah blah blah integrity blab blah blah and those wonderful things his high school coach said. Endless, right?

Once you understand this principle, there is only one logical course of action, next time you speak:

Stop talking before people stop listening.

If you understand that time moves faster for you while you are speaking than it does for those who are listening, you should pay extra care to keep your words short and simple. Instead of boring someone with a long-winded lecture, delight them with a few interesting facts. Even better, ask insightful questions and actually listen to the answers.

"Stop talking before people stop listening" applies to everything you say:

• Sales pitches
• Strategy discussions
• Advice to employees
• Lunch conversation with colleagues
• Small talk on dates
• Advice to your kids
• Intimate conversations with your significant other

It also applies to what you write. Never take three pages to communicate what you can get across in two sentences plus a picture. Never keep talking when you see people start checking their watches, checking their phones, and looking as though they are willing to chew off their own arm to escape your unending "words of wisdom."

I'm not suggesting you have little of value to say. To the contrary, everyone has something of value to contribute. But most of us also take too long to say it.

And now for some very sad news. 80% of the people who read this article and nod their heads in agreement... will later keep talking after people stop listening.

Arrgh.

It's insanely difficult to edit yourself. Why just the other day, I was

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Bruce Kasanoff is a ghostwriter for entrepreneurs. Learn more at Kasanoff.com.

Bruce is the author of How to Self-Promote without Being a Jerk, a short book of career tips about succeeding by actually helping others.