What Silence Told Me

Every team has that moment, the meeting where silence fills the room.

I remember one project review where I asked, “Any feedback?” and heard nothing but the hum of the air conditioner. I took the silence as agreement. In truth, it was disengagement.

Later, a team member confided that my tone and pace made others hesitant to speak up. My drive for efficiency had unintentionally created a sense of intimidation. I wanted progress, but my urgency made questions feel like delays and ideas seem like interruptions.

When a team goes quiet, it’s rarely because they have nothing to say. It’s because they don’t feel safe saying it. Silence is a form of feedback, the kind we often ignore.

I learned that the leader’s voice should never be the loudest one in the room. Leadership isn’t about speaking clearly and loudly; it’s about creating space for others to speak courageously.

Since then, I’ve made it a habit to pause, ask, and wait. The pause invites participation. The wait builds safety.

Blind spot revealed: Silence isn’t agreement, it’s feedback. The best teams don’t avoid tension; they invite honest conversation and grow stronger because of it.

Watch for the blind spots.

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