As a working mother, it is easy to get caught in the hustle and bustle of daily life, hurry from one task to another, juggling with multiple roles and striving to do it all. But what if I told you that one of the most powerful tools you can use to improve your productivity, improve your relationships and reduce stress, simply says less?
In a world that is always loud – whether it is the constant chatter of work, social media or family requirements – can pause, delay and embrace, have a major impact on your personal and professional life.
The power of the break: giving yourself permission to stop
Pause can be difficult in our busy, often hectic life. It seems contraindic if we are constantly told to be more productive, more efficient and never stopping progressing.
Learning to pause – whether in conversations, before you make decisions, or if you move all day long – it is secret to feel more satisfied. When you give yourself the space to stop and think before you respond, you give yourself the opportunity to make more thoughtful decisions, prioritize better and ultimately reduce stress. The action of pausing can help you assess what really matters, not only in your work, but in your life as a whole.
The Silent Negotiation Forces: A Case Study for career decisions
Let me share an example of one of my recent customer sessions to illustrate how impactful it can be to say less. This customer struggled with whether she should stay in her current job or make a change. She felt stuck, not sure whether stay was the right choice, but also hesitantly to jump into a new role without knowing exactly what she wanted to do and if another job would actually be better.
During our sessions we investigated what she really wanted in her working life, what limits she should set and how she could argue for herself in a way that would not lead to burn -out. Although she investigated other potential opportunities, she also prepared for an important conversation with her manager to reset boundaries.
In negotiations or an important conversation, sometimes the most powerful thing you can do is say what you should say and then stop talking. Speak and then break.
Why? Because silence is powerful. If you clearly state your case, without increasing or justifying too much, the silence that follows the other person gives the chance to think about what you have said. Silence enables your words to land with more impact and it gives the other person room to process. Often what happens, is she Will fill the silence with their own response. And that gives you valuable insights into their perspective.
Embrace Silence as a leader: the transformation of one client
Silence not only works in negotiations – it can also be transforming into leadership. One of my customers, who had recently started a larger leadership role, noticed that she got into an old habit of talking too much during meetings with her team. She thought that leadership meant that it always gave answers, offered guidance and the expert was. However, she soon realized that the best leaders often say less and listen more.
By learning to pause in her one-on-one meetings with her team, she created room for her direct reports to share their Thoughts, ideas and worries. Because of this shift, she was able to better understand her team, build stronger relationships and create a more open and supporting working environment. Over time, it became less the basis of her leadership style, strengthening the confidence and communication of her team.
Apply the break to parenthood: a personal example
The power to say less is not limited to work -related conversations. It can also make a huge difference in how we deal with our children. I was recently inspired by one Video by Dr. Becky KennedyWho shared an insightful example from her own parenting experience. Her son was upset because he wanted to wear his favorite sweatshirt to school, but it was still dirty. Instead of jumping in to defend himself or explain why it was actually his fault that the shirt was not clean, she chose to say less.
Instead of adding fuel to the fire, she just acknowledged his disappointment with a calm: “Yes, you wanted to wear your favorite sweatshirt today.” By saying less and allowing the silence to fill the space, she has disconnected the situation, allowing her son to be minimal frustration.
In parenting we often feel the need to explain, justify or resolve problems immediately. But sometimes less can actually spread a potentially conflict. Just like in work situations, silence can give you and your child the opportunity to process feelings and go more calmly.
How to practice less saying in your own life
So how can you start practicing saying less? The first step is to note when you tend to convince or fill the silence. Is it at work, during meetings with colleagues or your manager? Is it with your children if they are upset or ask questions? Or perhaps in your personal relationships, when you feel the need to explain or justify yourself?
For me I discovered that I feel much more comfortable to practice silence in professional conversations. In my upbringing, however, I often feel forced to explain myself or to offer solutions, even if it is not necessary. By being more aware of these tendencies, I can challenge myself to say less at those moments.
Start practicing in small ways. For example, during a conversation at work, try to pause after making a point. Allow a few seconds of silence to give your words space to resonate. In your personal life you resist the urge to immediately solve a problem for your child or partner and to offer simple recognition instead.
The goal is not to eliminate communicationBut to create space for deeper, more thoughtful fairs. Just like those powerful TED Talk -speakers who pause after delivering an important point, your words will bear more weight if you give them room to breathe.
All together
The benefits of saying less much further than just reducing noise in your life. If you say less, you also do less. You create more time and space to concentrate on what really matters, both at work and at home. This practice is especially important for working mothers, who often notice that they juggle with multiple responsibilities and feel that they have to be everywhere at the same time.
Less can also lead to clearer limits. When you stop over -consumption or justify yourself, you strengthen your needs and expectations without feeling the pressure to accommodate everyone others. This is essential in both professional and personal contexts, where you might be tempted to say yes to everything for fear of disappointing others.
Ultimately, the practice of pause and less say not only about being more efficient – it is about being more intentional with your time, your words and your energy. By embracing silence, you create more meaningful connections, promote better communication and you will ultimately find more peace in your life.
Ready to practice saying less?
When you are ready to start practicing the art to say less and pause more, I invite you to participate in my small group coaching program for working mothers. Together we will learn how to manage your time more effectively, reduce overwhelming and concentrate on what is the most important thing in both your personal and professional life.
The program is designed to help you find time for the things you postpone, whether it is self -care, building better boundaries or exploring new career opportunities.