“Whoever controls the silence has the power.  When you can sit with it comfortably, people will go out of their way to agree, offer more information, or make small talk. Uncharismatic people fill that silence with backpedaling.  They make a request of someone and when they don’t get an immediate response, they say “But you don’t have to if you don’t want to.”  They pounce on the end of every sentence like they are in a race to finish their thought. Allow there to be silence after your requests.  Allow there to be silence after your sentences.  And most powerfully, allow there to be silence in…. The middle of your thoughts (see what I did there?)  It creates massive anticipation and draws people into your story.”