What to Do If You’re a Rambler
The common habit of babbling on and on can make you come across as uncertain, unfocused, and unprepared
Did you know that most people will lose interest in a conversation if you talk longer than 40 seconds uninterrupted?
Our bodies release dopamine when we talk about ourselves. The more we talk — and hear ourselves talk — the better we feel, so the more we talk. We become addicted to that good feeling. It’s no wonder that, on average, people spend 60% of their conversations talking about themselves and up to 80% when using social media.
Couple that with feeling nervous during job interviews or challenging meetings, and you may end up running your mouth a lot. I previously shared the horror story of a stressful one-on-one meeting with one of my managers. The more he smiled and silently nodded, the more I kept babbling and rambling. On and on and on…
Some of the best professional advice I received was to know when to shut my mouth. I met with an executive several years ago, and he shared some valuable feedback.
He had been watching me present, pitch, debate, and negotiate in meetings. I don’t remember his exact words, so I’m paraphrasing a bit here: “You have to know when to stop and be quiet. Pay attention, read the room…
