‘Eagle or Seagull’
In a world with so much noise … have we become afraid of silence ?
Do we actively listen with intent – to uncover meaning and seek to understand and connect?
‘Silence can be powerful when engaged with purpose and intent’
Some ways we can use silence for true effect:
– To truly understand or seek context
– To create room for thought and reflection or for someone to share their thoughts/ views
– To invoke discomfort and create strategic tension eg: negotiations/bargaining
– To prevent reactive responses or unfiltered vocalisation
– To allow time for someone to gather emotions, thoughts or demonstrating empathy.
– To allow for critical analysis and deep thinking / problem solving
Questions to ask yourself as a leader:
Do you make space for people to share in meetings/one on ones/ team settings ? Do you help your people remove noise and schedule thinking, planning and time to reflect?
What would happen if at team and exec meetings there was a few minutes silence after the scene was set for reflective thought before the ideas flow ?
How would it feel to have an hour of quiet time each day at work to reflect, problem solve and work in silence with no disruptions? Do people have remote working time built into their week to achieve this?
What if leaders intentionally practised a 80/20 (direction, active talking) — listening/asking intentional questions and listening actively to seek understanding — for a day/a week ?
Are introverts disadvantaged in business settings/do you have strategies to ensure they have a voice and are not overshadowed by more extroverted team members?
How do open plan environments affect your people’s focus and working environment?
What if extroverted CEOs and Directors focused more on representing introverts and diversity of thought at the top tables—balancing persona with substance?
In a world filled with noise … perhaps we need more quiet, to make better decisions, to manage mental health, to become better leaders and to have bigger (not louder) impact ?
Eagles are silent … seagulls shrill … which one are you?
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