7 ms·

Something tells me that being the head of a massive company gives you some latitude in being able to sit there in silence while people wait for you to talk. If

by xt00 6y ago

Something tells me that being the head of a massive company gives you some latitude in being able to sit there in silence while people wait for you to talk. If Tim Cook asked you a question and you sat there thinking about it for 30 seconds, that would be interesting to watch what happens..

mc32 6y ago
Yeah. It’s probably one of those learned power moves. In other words this is a signal to others they have “the power” to do that. Same as people who have the “power” to show up late and disheveled and still be taken seriously. Most everyone accepts that idiosyncratic tick. I think this is not much different.
- positr0n 6y ago
  I'm not going to say what this article describes is a power move, but sitting in silence when someone should be talking can absolutely be a power move. A few job changes ago I read (patio11 I think) that after both sides present opposing salary figures that the hiring manager will often sit in silence and the candidate, being nervous and less experienced, will feel the awkward silence and have a strong urge to say something. Usually they give in to a lower figure. I tried it the other way. When the hiring manager said "I don't think we can do $X" I just sat there and didn't say anything. After a while he said "let me look at some things" and after poking around on his computer he agreed to the salary I asked for. I'm not great at this. Interestingly I found that to me it was actually easier to not say anything than to repeat my desire for a larger salary.
  - mc32 6y ago
    To me, unless you preface the pause with, let me think for a moment, give me a minute, hang on a second, etc., it’s a dick move to show power.
    - dkdk8283 6y ago
      It’s also a dick move to try and hire someone at a lower rate due to failure to negotiate
- deleted 6y ago
  [deleted]
dmode 6y ago
Exactly. I have been in meetings, where if I was late by responding by even a couple of seconds, some exec will jump on and egg me to respond. 99.9% of people don't have the luxury of awkward silence
- deleted 6y ago
  [deleted]
Nasrudith 6y ago
Personally it seems to be a cultural norm inhereited from the infamous tough interview question gauntlet technique. It also perhaps coincidentally seems to be a "closer to the autistic spectrum" norm propagating for good given in my experience and general observations silence to think is preferred over noise-filling blather in already potentially straining conversations. It is consistent with other stereotypical West Coast "tech power moves" of telling the prevalent useless traditions to get lost. Like dressing down instead of the three piece suits of executives. They may see it as an assertion of dominance because it goes against "their rules" and going along with the tradition of "I am too important for the rules on peons" but it is more a side effect of "nobody is making me bother with this bullshit so I won't bother with it for anyone".

by xt00 6y ago

mc32 6y ago

Yeah. It’s probably one of those learned power moves. In other words this is a signal to others they have “the power” to do that. Same as people who have the “power” to show up late and disheveled and still be taken seriously. Most everyone accepts that idiosyncratic tick. I think this is not much different.

positr0n 6y ago
I'm not going to say what this article describes is a power move, but sitting in silence when someone should be talking can absolutely be a power move. A few job changes ago I read (patio11 I think) that after both sides present opposing salary figures that the hiring manager will often sit in silence and the candidate, being nervous and less experienced, will feel the awkward silence and have a strong urge to say something. Usually they give in to a lower figure. I tried it the other way. When the hiring manager said "I don't think we can do $X" I just sat there and didn't say anything. After a while he said "let me look at some things" and after poking around on his computer he agreed to the salary I asked for. I'm not great at this. Interestingly I found that to me it was actually easier to not say anything than to repeat my desire for a larger salary.
- mc32 6y ago
  To me, unless you preface the pause with, let me think for a moment, give me a minute, hang on a second, etc., it’s a dick move to show power.
  - dkdk8283 6y ago
    It’s also a dick move to try and hire someone at a lower rate due to failure to negotiate
deleted 6y ago
[deleted]

dmode 6y ago

Exactly. I have been in meetings, where if I was late by responding by even a couple of seconds, some exec will jump on and egg me to respond. 99.9% of people don't have the luxury of awkward silence

deleted 6y ago
[deleted]

Nasrudith 6y ago

Personally it seems to be a cultural norm inhereited from the infamous tough interview question gauntlet technique. It also perhaps coincidentally seems to be a "closer to the autistic spectrum" norm propagating for good given in my experience and general observations silence to think is preferred over noise-filling blather in already potentially straining conversations. It is consistent with other stereotypical West Coast "tech power moves" of telling the prevalent useless traditions to get lost. Like dressing down instead of the three piece suits of executives. They may see it as an assertion of dominance because it goes against "their rules" and going along with the tradition of "I am too important for the rules on peons" but it is more a side effect of "nobody is making me bother with this bullshit so I won't bother with it for anyone".