
Reframing Silence
When a number of people are silent and there is not necessarily a dominant person. This often happens in cultures where being assertive is not valued.
Goal
Encouraging participation when a number of people are silent in a workshop.
Instructions
Types of participants: Non assertive people
1. Reframing the silence or non-participation as reflectiveness, consideration for others, desire to learn, a good way to avoid criticism, etc.
2. Pacing the body language, especially head-shoulders-torso angulations.
3. Paradoxical isomorphic metaphors about non-participation being the first step toward participation, etc..
4. When the quiet ones finally do offer something original, I (sincerely) praise all that remotely justifies praising and begin to pace the communication style, including representational systems. Works like a charm with almost everyone. The problem is shutting them up afterwards as they let out twenty or thirty years of repressed wisdom.
Usual or Expected Outcomes: more participation
Potential pitfalls: Silence continues.
How success is evaluated: Increase in participation
Background
Source: Gil Brenson
Derived from: Neurolinguistic Programming
Recognizable components: Reframing the silence or non-participation as reflectiveness, consideration for others, desire to learn, a good way to avoid criticism, etc.
References:
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