Saying Nothing Usually Makes Things Worse

Episode notes

Register for future Connecting to Admired Leadership sessions here. Key Highlights Silence is not neutral: Choosing not to speak is an active decision that affects outcomes - you're making a choice to withhold wisdom and perspective that could benefit the situation, and people will interpret your silence Two primary fears drive silence: Fear of being perceived incorrectly (what will people think of me?) and fear of damaging relationships (will this move us backwards?) - but judgments happen whether you speak or stay silent Retrain the silence habit: If you have a self-limiting narrative ("I'm not someone who speaks up"), commit to asking at least one question in every meeting to build the muscle of contributing your voice Frame feedback for the future, not the past: Instead of "Let's talk about how that meeting went," say "For the next meeting, here's what I want to see more of or less of" to reduce defensiveness Know when to stay out of it: Not every problem requires your voice - ask if you're the right person to have the conversation, and don't give oxygen to secondhand complaints or hearsay Notable Quotes "Silence is not neutral.