Monday Morning Musings
Volume XXIV, Number 17 (Issue 1178) April 27, 2026
Silence – Golden or Possibly Fools Gold
There are numerous reasons why some of us remain silent a good part of the time. In my case, combine an introverted personality with being raised in a “children should be seen, not heard” environment and my quiet, reserved nature seem preordained. But put me in a situation where I have strongly held views, expertise, and a receptive audience and I can hold my own in a conversation. Better still, put me in front of a crowd in a lecture hall with a familiar topic and I will definitely speak my piece.
There are other reasons why you and I might choose to remain silent. One of the big reasons we opt to bite our tongue is fear – be it fear of loss of face, loss of relationship, or loss of life (in this case I am referencing economic or fiscal life more so than physical well-being). In the case of fear of loss of face, we do not want to appear foolish or misinformed, so we keep our views to ourselves. When it comes to loss of relationship the primary concern is the risk of estrangement. As for loss of life, it is the fear that what we say could jeopardize our livelihood or well-being.
Beyond the impact of our fears – real or imagined – another reason that can cause us to keep our opinions to ourselves is the misguided thought that we can gain an advantage in the form of knowledge or information that is known to us and not others (aka the premise that knowledge is power). We might also elect to remain silent in situations where we cannot trust others to maintain confidentiality. We can further add to this list doubts about the validity of the opinions we hold (think loss of face). One may also keep their views to themselves due to a degree of complacency, i.e., my views do not matter. Then there is the old adage, if you do not have anything nice to say about someone, do not say anything at all.
The thing is our decisions to remain silent do not mean we are not sharing our thoughts. Body language, including facial expressions, can often reveal what we are thinking. A smile or nod of the head can be interpreted as agreement while folded arms suggest the opposite or that we have stopped listening. Shaking our head from side to side or rolling our eyes says we disagree with what we are hearing/seeing while a raised eyebrow can indicate skepticism.
In short, whether we choose to say something aloud or not does mean we do not hold an opinion or that we are not sending a signal (communicating). Silence therefore is not golden. As a leader I should want/need to know what those around me think since without the input/perspective of others I may not make the best possible decision. But in order to know what others are thinking it is up to me to create and maintain a psychologically safe environment where others know sharing their views can be done without the risk of harmful consequences.
There is one more thing I must add. Stone cold silence can suggest to others that you agree and/or understand. Furthermore, in situations where someone is about to make/implement a decision that is problematic, your silence, my silence can amount to complicity whenever things go horribly off the rails. Think about it.
Soli Deo Gloria
“Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy.” Proverbs 31:8-9
J. Keith Hughey
Mobile: (210) 260-0955
E-mail: keith@jkeithhughey.com
Website: www.jkeithhughey.com
Transforming Potential into Unmatched Performance
Copyright 2026 by J. Keith Hughey. All rights reserved. Permission is hereby granted for reproduction and redistribution of this essay as provided under the copyright laws of the United States of America. Recent issues of Musings may be found at www.jkeithhughey.com. Your comments are both welcomed and encouraged.