Six Sides of Silence in the Workplace
At work, remaining silent during a meeting, brainstorm, interview, or other professional gathering, can connote different meanings to different people—and it's not always readily apparent to all parties involved. A manager may interpret your silence one way, a colleague another, but unbeknownst to them, you had a completely different impetus for your silence in the first place.
This is an attempt to unpack a few of those interactions many of us have on a daily basis and also to suss out the different sides of silence that are either consciously or subconsciously experienced in the workplace.
Hopefully, by becoming more cognizant of what I've called the "Six Sides of Silence," you'll be able to shed more light on the topic of silence at your work and if nothing else provide expanded perspective into the world of the unsaid word.
1. Silence as a form of Uncertainty
Probably the most common side of silence in the workplace is as a form of uncertainty. If you're caught off guard or don't know the appropriate answer to a given question, chances are you'll remain silent.
This will, of course, be impacted by how many other colleagues are present in the room (and your relationship to those colleagues) or if you're in a one-on-one situation.
2. Silence as a form of Discomfort
Another side of silence is to represent a general discomfort with a given scenario or something that was just said. As a manager, it's important to keep tabs on is whether an employee or manager suddenly become silent within a certain setting. It is engagement delta in verbal participation that can signal something was just said that has created an uncomfortable environment for that individual.
If you or a coworker notice this occurring in meetings, try to immediately make a mental note of what might've changed the environment and if possible correct it in flow. It may not be appropriate to stop everything and address it at that moment, but it's crucial that you acknowledge and address soon after the gathering's finished.
One point that should ring true throughout this post is that silence, by its very nature, is difficult to understand the true meaning behind. This then should urge us all to be more proactive and aware to better understand each silence circumstance in the workplace.
3. Silence as a form of Power
Ever been in a meeting and after you present an idea, you're faced with silence? Sometimes, intentional silence can be used as a form of power. What's implied in the silence is that whoever is on the receiving end of the silence will begin to second guess their statement, rethinking their position until they ultimately crack and retreat.
This silent treatment shows that saying nothing can be just as powerful as verbal power, sometimes even more so. Silence can be used to turn the tables, hold out for the desired response, establish a dominant position of power, and more.
4. Silence as a form of Respect
On the flip side, silence can also be a form of respect through active listening. It can be used to build a healthy space for your colleagues or coworkers who are more introverted than you might be.
This one definitely hits home for me and is something I'm constantly working on. I tend to be overly participatory in conversations (aka I talk a lot) so I try very hard to refrain in certain scenarios so as to provide more space for others to voice their opinions and lead discussions.
5. Silence as a form of Comprehension
Silence can also provide space for us to comprehend material so we're better prepared to respond. Jeff Bezos, Founder and CEO of Amazon, famously directs his teams to sit in silence at the beginning of meetings so that everyone has a chance to read the meeting brief before anyone begins talking.
This might seem anti-productive because everyone is spending precious time in a room together, shouldn't they be actively collaborating? But actually, this approach is more productive in the end because it ensures that everyone is discussing the subject matter from a place of equal awareness.
6. Silence as an Amplifier of Non-Verbal Communication
Finally, silence can be used to amplify body language. If someone is silent in a meeting or workplace situation, make sure to notice their body language—this can tell quite a lot even if they're not voicing their opinions with words.
There are certainly other sides of silence and I'd love to hear what other ways it plays a role in your life.