“The right word may be effective, but no word was ever as effective as a rightly timed pause.”
— Mark Twain
If you looked at my calendar this week, you might assume I’ve lost my mind.
- Saturday: Hosted over 30 people for my son’s college graduation party—and yes, I cooked it all myself. (I know, I know.)
- Monday: Led a full-day “Speaking to Influence” training for a client’s team, then caught a Phillies game with family visiting from out west.
- Tuesday: Out of office for a business development opportunity, followed by a round of catch-up emails and packing for a 3-day trip to Minneapolis.
- Wednesday: Back-to-back coaching calls from 9–12, then straight to the airport.
- Thursday: Led my “Breaking the Expert’s Curse” training program.
- Friday: 7 AM flight back to Philly, home by noon—just in time to repack and head out for 4-hour drive to a (relaxing?) weekend family getaway in the Catskills.
Oh, and email, family needs, and everything else in between.
That’s not a week. That’s a decathlon.
Somewhere in the midst of it all, I got a message from a colleague I hadn’t seen in 10 years:
“Hey Laura, I’ll be in Wilmington this week—is that close to you? Any chance we could meet up?”
There was literally one—one—hour that overlapped in our schedules Tuesday evening. Just enough time to meet for a quick toast before her dinner plans.
On paper, it worked.
But as I was composing my email to lock it in, I paused.
I stared at the calendar.
And my heart sank.
Could I make it work? Technically, yes.
Should I? That’s a different question.
That pause—that moment of silence between action and reaction—was perhaps the most important minute of my week.
Silence Isn’t Empty. It’s Full of Answers.
That brief moment of stillness wasn’t about time management. It was about self-leadership.
I knew that if I forced the meetup, I’d be present nowhere:
- Not fully engaged at my business development event.
- Not truly connecting with my colleague.
- Not the calm, focused mom and spouse I wanted to be later that evening.
When viewed through the lens of Stephen Covey’s Time Management Matrix as we explored a few weeks ago, the decision became clear: as meaningful as the reunion might have been, it wasn’t urgent or important enough to justify the cost of trying to force it in.
That clarity didn’t come from hustle. It came from stillness.
It took 30 seconds. Maybe a minute.
But I had to stop. To breathe. To think.
And that’s when I remembered a Speaking to Influence podcast episode with Justin Zorn and Leigh Marz, authors of Golden: The Power of Silence in a World of Noise.
We talk so much about wanting to be heard, but sometimes the only way to truly hear yourself… is to stop talking.
So… When Do You Stop Talking?
Most of us wear “busy” like a badge of honor.
But without silence, reflection, or the occasional strategic “no,” our choices become reactionary, not intentional—and that rarely leads to our best outcomes.
The leaders I coach in my Executive Coaching programs often have their most powerful breakthroughs in the pause. Sometimes, that moment comes right after I ask a question as simple as:
“Why do you think you have to do that?”
They offer a quick answer. So I follow up:
“Why is that important?”
Another quick answer. Then:
“Why do you think that?”
And then… silence.
That’s when clarity appears.
Take One Minute. Right Now.
Really—do it.
Stop reading.
Put down your phone.
Close your eyes.
Breathe.
Now ask yourself:
- Where do I need a pause today?
- What am I saying “yes” to that no longer serves me—or anyone else?
- What would shift if I gave myself just one minute of silence before deciding?
Even if you don’t change your plans, you’ll change how you feel about them.
That one minute might be your most powerful leadership move this week.
Because silence isn’t weakness.
Silence is strength.
It’s the sound of you listening—to you.
Ready to Make More Intentional Decisions?
If you’re in a leadership role—or ready for your next one—and craving more clarity, intentionality, and peace in the chaos, maybe it’s time for your own pause.
That moment of silence might be the exact space where your next breakthrough lives.
Through my Executive Coaching programs, we’ll work together to recalibrate how you make decisions, communicate priorities, and lead with greater confidence and presence.
And if you realize it’s time for a new career move, the Quantum Leap program will guide you through those strategic pauses to figure out exactly what you want—and how to get it.
It’s built for high-performing leaders who are ready to stop second-guessing and start designing a career that actually fits their goals, values, and voice.
This isn’t just about landing a new job. It’s about crafting a role—and a life—that aligns with who you are now and who you want to be.
You don’t need to overhaul your whole life. You just need to take one breath, one moment, one pause—and decide you’re ready.
Book a discovery call today to explore which program is right for you. Because the most powerful next step might be the one you don’t rush into.
