In this era of rapid response, is speed taking precedence over substance?
A strange thing has happened to time ever since we got
caught up in the digital world. From the microsecond (one millionth of a
second) to the femtosecond (one quadrillionth, or one millionth of a
billionth, of a second) and beyond, we’ve seen the rapid shrinking of
response time in various contexts. This has made us more impatient, less
tolerant of delays, and, occasionally, we have the sense that we are
hurtling crazily towards the future without the luxury of looking out of
the window and enjoying the scenery. We send a query into cyberspace
and expect thousands of answers in a fraction of a second. We send a
text on a messaging app and expect a reply the moment our screen says
“delivered.” And on our part, we feel pressured to answer the instant
someone throws a question at us.
Fear of delay
In
this era of instant back-and-forth, we rarely pause to reflect on what
we’ve heard and how we might respond to it. Then, we’re often left
wondering about whether we really understood the question, or if we
could have given a better answer, or kicking ourselves mentally for
saying the wrong thing at the wrong time.
Anxiety
often makes us respond too quickly. We fear that any delay in answering
might be perceived as lack of confidence or, worse, as not knowing the
answer. In many situations, we feel time stretching out; even a few
seconds’ pause seems too long. It’s important to remember, however, that
this is only a perception—most likely, the person asking the question
does not even notice the time that has passed.
The
space between a question and its answer is the time for a short (or
long, as the case may be) internal dialogue. This is when we confront
the question, turn it over in our minds, think about what is expected in
the specific context and then figure out the best way to respond. In
this brief space between asking and answering, we frame the answer, both
the words and the tone, so that what is finally delivered is well
considered.
Of course, there are situations where
quick repartee is called for, where the spontaneity of an answer is more
important than the content. This is usually in social situations, or in
certain kinds of competitive events where one is being judged not only
on the basis of the knowledge one has, but also the speed with which one
is able to exhibit that knowledge in an appropriate manner. But in an
educational or employment setting, this is generally not the case; speed
is less important than substance.
In an interview or
viva-voce, for instance, the people on the other side of the table are
interested in what you have to say, in how you might think about and
deal with a certain issue. In such situations, it helps to listen
carefully to what is being asked, even ask the person to repeat or
clarify the question if you don't understand it, and then frame your
response.
Pause to think
There’s absolutely no
shame in taking the time to think; in fact, it shows that you take the
whole interaction seriously, and most interviewers would appreciate
seeing you give thought to something they have asked about. In this
pause between listening to the question and giving your answer, these
are some things you could think about:
* Does the question require you to provide information (what you know) or opinion (what you think)?
* How much detail is demanded in this context?
* What is the level of complexity that is demanded?
* Why is this question being asked at this point?
* Does the question relate to anything else that has been asked?
If
you are facing an interview panel, you may also wish to consider which
of the panelists you want to primarily direct your answer to—and this
may not be the person who asked the question, but someone who is either
sympathetic or who has shown a specific interest in the topic.
Even
in less formal or social interactions, the pause between asking and
answering can be crucial, even amounting to the difference between
making and breaking relationships. Taking the time to understand why
someone is asking a question, and what they are really expecting in
answer, can help you decide what you really want to give in
response—whether you wish to meet those expectations or lay out your
own, in return. Often, the problem with answers is not that they are
wrong in themselves, but that they are not really what was demanded by
the question in that particular context.
This space —
even if it is actually no more than a microsecond — is important to
cultivate and pay attention to, no matter which medium you are
interacting within. Writing and responding to instant messages, replying
to emails, answering a question posed over the telephone or in that
all-important interview — interactions are meant to be thoughtful, not
mechanical. And it’s that space between Q and A that contains the
opportunity for thought.
Happy New Year!
The author teaches at the University of Hyderabad and edits Teacher Plus magazine. Email: usha.bpgll@gmail.com
