I have borrowed Birju's idea of a minute of silence in the classes I teach to working professionals. I see my class as a co-created space for learning where I hold space and set the agenda, and just as the students are learning from my expertise, I am also learning from them and about them. I set up the minute of silence as the pause to decide for themselves what they want to take away from the class. I also check in afterwards as to how that minute went, and get permission for doing more in the future, if they are open to it.

I asked for mid-course reflections on how the class was going, and here is what one of the students wrote, reproduced below in his own words.:

"On the first day of class, I learned a valuable lesson in our minute of silence –self-reflection is important. Taking that minute break away from my computer, phone, talking, and all distractions to reflect on what I wanted to take away from the coming class session was refreshing. I try to practice this exercise when I meet with clients or prospective clients at work. Most of my meetings are scheduled on my calendar and I have plenty of time to prepare my presentation. However, adding the minute of silence and reflection has increased my awareness and allowed me to really think about what I want to come away with from client interactions."

Small changes create ripples, and occasionally we get lucky enough to see these ripples. Thank you Birju, from me, my students and perhaps their clients too.