“In the first 20 seconds of talking, your light is green: your listener is liking you as long as your statement is relevant to the conversation and, hopefully, in service of the other person. But unless you are an extremely gifted raconteur, people who talk for more than roughly half a minute at a time are boring and often perceived as too chatty.”

American psychiatrist, executive coach and consultant

Mark Goulston was an American psychiatrist, executive coach, and consultant. He was known for developing Surgical Empathy, a method built around focused empathy and used to help people move past emotional and psychological barriers. He worked with Fortune 500 companies, universities, and other organizations. His work centered on communication, performance, and well-being, with an emphasis on reaching people in ways that could reduce inner blocks and support healthier functioning.