don't assume

Silence

Silence

My colleague and friend, Michelle Pauk, recently published this note exploring what silence might imply –

“Silence means consent.” But does it really? Silence can mean a lot of things. Sometimes it means…

·       I’m confused. I’m afraid I’ll look dumb if I ask a question.

·       I disagree, but I've learned there’s no point arguing.

·       I'm frustrated. I’ve tried to share my opinion before and no one listened.

·       I’m disengaged. I'm not even paying attention to this conversation.

The next time you’re tempted to declare what silence means for a group, try making an observation and asking a question instead.

“I’m noticing it’s very quiet. What should we make of that?”

You might be surprised by what happens next.

Next, Michelle posted this video supporting the topic.