When Silence Isn’t Golden

How What You Don’t Hear May Be Hurting Your Leadership

Open communication is a crucial leadership skill that can significantly improve team dynamics and overall performance. Continue reading for five practical steps to help you become a more effective leader tomorrow.

Many leaders struggle with team silence, leading to decreased innovation and lower team morale. Developing Active Constructive communication skills can bridge this gap and foster a more collaborative and dynamic work environment.

Research from Harvard Business Review indicates that leaders who foster psychological safety are more successful in encouraging team participation and driving innovation.

Amy Edmondson describes psychological safety as "a belief that the context is safe for interpersonal risk-taking – that speaking up with ideas, questions, concerns, or mistakes will be welcomed and valued even when I’m wrong. It’s a sense of permission for candor" (Edmondson, 2019).

A client of VAST, Sarah, noticed a disconnect within her team.

Meetings were tense, and engagement was low. She decided to implement Active Constructive communication when approached by a member of her team. During her check-ins, she began using the seven questions from "The Coaching Habit." Initially, it was a bit of a change, but the results were transformative. Communication became more open, misunderstandings decreased, and overall productivity improved.

Here are five steps to becoming a more engaging leader in meetings:

1. Actively Listen and Validate Contributions: Show your team that their input is valued by paraphrasing and asking follow-up questions.
2. Share Your Challenges and Mistakes: Build trust by being vulnerable and sharing your own struggles.
3. Ask Open-Ended Questions: Encourage deeper discussions with questions like, 'What are your thoughts on this project?'
4. Thank Team Members for Speaking Up: Boost morale by expressing gratitude for contributions.
5. Regular Check-Ins: Establish consistent communication through regular team check-ins and feedback sessions.

"Psychological safety is a belief that the context is safe for interpersonal risk-taking – that speaking up with ideas, questions, concerns, or mistakes will be welcomed and valued even when I’m wrong. It’s a sense of permission for candor," says Dr. Amy Edmondson (SafetyRisk.net ).

According to research by John Gottman, maintaining a ratio of five positive interactions to one negative interaction is key to fostering healthy interpersonal relationships. These positive interactions, or 'bids for attention,' are crucial in creating an environment where team members feel safe and valued, which facilitates open communication (The Gottman Institute ) (Education Store ).

What counts as a positive interaction can be as simple as making eye contact, acknowledging what they said, and asking them an affirming question. By following these steps, you can become a more engaging leader and create a collaborative work environment. Begin your journey to better leadership today.

Want to learn more about enhancing your communication skills? Visit VAST Coaching for personalized strategies and support.

References

• Edmondson, A. (2019). The Fearless Organization: Creating Psychological Safety in the Workplace for Learning, Innovation, and Growth. Harvard Business Review.
• Gottman, J., & Silver, N. (1999). The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work. New York: Crown.
• The Gottman Ratio for Happy Relationships at Work." Psychology Today, 2022.