This Is How Silence Makes Work Meetings Meaningful |
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Teamwork thrives when there is a balance between intentional talk and intentional silences.
Introducing pockets of silence in meetings can prevent groupthink and favor strategic and inclusive decisions.
Practicing silence together with colleagues can help the team better align with shared intentions and values.
Work meetings are often the birthplace of groupthink—a dynamic that favors conformism and harmony over critical thinking[1][2]. In other words, when people remain too quiet and let decision-making follow the crowd, opportunities for needed disruptions can go missing, even if those disruptions could have led to better strategies. We do not always dare to say what we think is the best decision or call out suggestions that would let experienced members out. Similarly, we do not always genuinely mean what we end up saying in meetings, especially if we choose to please those in power rather than be honest.
It is challenging to be assertive and collaborate while juggling multiple fireballs, such as time pressure, power dynamics, or budgets. In addition, our cultural, personality, or educational backgrounds can lead many of us to feel we are wired to different frequencies from some of our colleagues, given the apparent misalignment between values and actions within a team. We know it in theory: including as many diverse perspectives as possible when working together could benefit innovation[3]. However, we still have a long way to go in our aspirations to be cooperative, inclusive, curious, and respectful toward those who defy our preferred ways of thinking or acting[4].
While too much quietness in meetings can lead to biased decisions and power misuse, certain silences act as catalysts of meaning, mattering, and innovation. Here is a paradox—many of us tend to avoid silences in meetings because quiet moments can........