Become a better communicator during awkward, difficult, or tense moments in the workplace
In The Pause Principle: How to Keep Your Cool in Tough Situations, renowned corporate communications expert Cynthia Kane reveals her tried-and-tested SOFTEN practice to better handle awkward, difficult, or tense conversations at work by breaking free of automatic reactions including shutting down, running away, yelling, or getting passive aggressive or defensive. In this book, readers will learn how to regulate their bodily responses and emotions to arrive at peaceful and productive resolutions during even the most challenging moments at work.
With Kane's help, readers have the opportunity to make a profound impact in their organizations, both interpersonally and quantitatively by reducing miscommunications and therefore corporate errors. This book explores topics such as:
- The fight, flight, or freeze response, and why it's actually a very effective evolution strategy in the wilderness - just not in the workplace
- The true financial cost of corporate miscommunication, estimated to be $4,200 per employee per year
- The importance of mindfulness in work and life, and its key role in calming the human nervous system during stressful situations
The Pause Principle: How to Keep Your Cool in Tough Situations earns a well-deserved spot on the bookshelves of corporate leaders, executives, managers, and all individuals seeking proven strategies to smoothly navigate stressful social situations in the workplace.
Table of Contents
Acknowledgments ix
Introduction 1
Part I Learning to Pause 11
Chapter 1 Why Is It So Hard to Pause? 13
Chapter 2 The Pause Principle: SOFTEN 21
Part II The Pause Practices 33
Chapter 3 Sensation 35
Chapter 4 Own Your Discomfort 45
Chapter 5 Focus on the Present Moment 55
Chapter 6 Take a Breath 67
Chapter 7 Eyes Toward Another 83
Chapter 8 Need to Say 101
Chapter 9 SOFTEN Meditation Practices 119
Chapter 10 The Pause Principle in Action 143
Final Thoughts 151
References 155
About the Author 161
Index 165
