Silence is golden

Reprinted with permission from Sally McKenzie and McKenzie Management.

Undoubtedly you’ve heard this proverbial saying. It’s often used in situations where saying nothing is thought to be preferable to speaking. Emily Dickinson said, “Saying nothing sometimes says the most.” Claude Debussy, the famous French composer, said, “Music is the silence between the notes.”

Unfortunately, pausing in silence and listening is a skill that has been ignored in the modern era of quick fixes and instant gratification. Plus, people dislike silence because it feels awkward. Consider the ways we describe it: eerie silence, deafening silence, and hushed silence, to name a few. But silence is a powerful influence tactic, as in: “His silence spoke volumes."

The ability to listen effectively is a vital skill for leadership. Few do it well. Most of us engage in listening only as a way of waiting until it's our turn to speak. But taking a deep breath and keeping your mouth shut is one of the most powerful ways to get others to be accountable and get things moving in the right direction.

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