We all know what negative space is—the blank air space used in an image. It’s the space that has nothing show, yet gives more focus to the object being presented.
Taking this art term back to reality, I never knew how powerful negative space could be in conversation until I started working customer service at our restaurant.
Here’s a real conversation I had with a customer once:
Customer: If I don’t take the free soup, can I get an extra drink?
Me: No, because the price of the soup and the price of the drink are not the same.
We wouldn’t be able to maintain a profitable business if *insert extra reasons here*
Customer: (confused and disheartened)
Here’s the same conversation with negative space applied:
Customer: If I don’t take the free soup, can I get an extra drink?
Me: No.
*silence*
Customer: Okay that’s fine with me.
By saying less, we appear more firm in our answers. It’s a trick I picked up because I was worried I was too much of a people-pleaser.
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