The Power of Nunchi: The Korean Secret to Happiness and Success by Euny Hong
When you are good at Nunchi, you are said to have "quick Nunchi", yet a key nunchi skill is to be quiet and not immediately respond. Nunchi is somewhat related to empathy, but very different. It requires quickly assessing the mood of the room and the condition of others. Small clues are used to understand how people feel and what they are communicating non-verbally. Nunchi also involves picking up and understanding local customs and behavior quickly. Those with quick nunchi can pick up on these and do what is needed to fit in. In many situations, just sitting there quietly can encourage others to play their cards and give out details. (Most people do not like silence.)
This skill seems especially appropriate in Korean culture. The verbal communication is often only a small part of what is going on. It is highly ritualized, with the "real" communication going on in the very subtle back channels. Even in cultures with very open communication, there is still value in understanding these small cues and communication needs.
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