what to do when you can not stop talking
what to do when you can not stop talking?
abd you have a long line of studens?
I also have the same problem. Not just with students, but with co workers. I have recently started working at a new school in a new state and in my efforts to build rapport with co workers, I think I might have alienated myself.
while this may be slightly off topic, I still think it fits here. There is a tactic called "golden silence" that I was trained in some time ago. It has to do with asking our prospective student a question and then "shutting up". We all have that urge during any "uncomfortable" silence to jump in and answer for the student or move on to the next question instead of really listening and getting as much as possible out of our questions. In practicing "golden silence", I require that my reps wait 3-4 seconds (if necessary) for a prospect to answer a question AND when the prospect pauses or "finishes", wait another 3-4 seconds (2nd golden silence)before speaking. It's amazing how much more (often valuable) information a prospect will give you when properly utilizing this tactic. Otherwise, your rush to "fill in" the silence will only impose YOUR beliefs, not the prospect's, which, while eliminating any discomfort, has completely defeated the purpose of asking the question. You're trying to get THEIR information and beliefs, not supplant them with your own, right? Try this sometime, it works!
I have experienced similar sessions with students, so one step I do when I realize my conversation is running on an on I would ask for the sale. When would you like to start school? Then I listen to the student's response as to their excitement or hesitation. Ask clarifying questions to the students to determine where they stand in the admissions process. Suggest rescheduling a follow up appointment giving the student confidence that I am here to assist them through the admissions process. What other suggestions would you like to share?
I agree with Hannah's response here. For me, I love building relationships and talking with my students, so I often have to limit myself when talking with students. I do a few things to hold myself accountable, including making sure that I stick to the given appointment times with students. Additionally, I try to limit my appointments to 30 minutes, to respect my time and the time of the student. I also recognize that meetings also can easily become info-dumping sessions, when I say that out loud to a student, then paus to give them time to process, it helps me to slow down and check myself to make sure that I'm not being too verbose.
It also helps if you can have a co-worker work with you to hold you accountable for your students and appointments.
I have the same problem. I tend to continue on past the end point of the conversation. I am still working on this, so I can't give to much insight, however I have found it good to cut myself off with a question to my student. Often I'll stop and say "what do you think of the information I have given you so far?" Even if I don't get a big response back, it forces me to take a breath and rethink how the conversation was going.
Juan, that's a great question. I'm curious, are there others that are available to help?
Dr. Jean Norris
