Is Silence Killing Your Company? Silence starts when we choose not to confront a difference Easier to cover up differences than to discuss them Pressure for unanimity Pressure from differences in rank Silence as a strategy to get ahead Costs of silence Silence does not resolve differences, just pushes them under the surface Don’t speak up for fear of destroying relationships, but in the end silence creates an emotional distance that can create an unbridgeable rift.

Breaking the silence Leader: be careful not to punish people for speaking out, particularly on issues that may be difficult for the organization to deal with Create a context where the expression of difference is valued Avoid blame and focus on the larger shared problem: see the example of Harry the commander Recognize your own power to express yourself and encourage others to speak freely Present new information in a way the other person can absorb Act Deviantly Purposeful deviance is a creative act Build a coalition