By Kenny Moore

It’s not just our personal life that benefits from silence.  So does our corporate one.

I recently had a chance to work with one of our Operating officers.  He asked my help in designing a group meeting with his managers to get their input regarding departmental goals.  We worked assiduously in crafting a session largely focused on what the employees had to say, and intentionally kept executive remarks to a minimum .  During the half-day program, participants broke into small groups to write down their thoughts about organizational needs, operational gaps and suggestions for productively moving the business forward.  The employees spent some time writing and a lot of time speaking.  The officer largely listened.  

There were a few interesting insights.  We came to learn that when executives speak, employees rarely listen or if they do listen they don’t believe.  But co-workers have great credibility and when they talk, they have a significant impact on their peers.  Mostly because they’re not seen as paid political envoys, but fellow workers laboring in the daily muck and mire.  Even though the executive could have waxed eloquently about customer satisfaction and safety, having employees talk about their experiences on the job proved far more compelling.

After unedited conversations about business challenges and operational needs, one engineer remarked: “This is the first time I understand how our department actually fits into the company’s Growth Strategy.”  Thank God the folks from Corporate Planning weren’t in the room; they would have reeled in horror.

Effective Communication Skills DVD

In the midst of executive silence, we also got a chance to hear about our newly minted performance appraisal program and forced ranking system.  Seems we achieved exceptional results in disheartening our employees and marginalizing the workforce.  As one brave director said: “I don’t mind raising the performance bar, but I personally resent being badgered and threatened by the system.”  How surprising: our slavish adherence to “Best Practices” had once again ruptured employee relations and compromised intrinsic motivation.

When employees evaluated the half-day program, their one clear and consistent comment was: “How refreshing to be in a meeting with an officer who actually listens.  It makes me hopeful about our future.”  

Additionally, for the last few years my CEO has been hosting informal dinner meetings with a handful of managers once a month. He wants to hear what’s working well in the company and what’s not.  His main contribution to the conversation is silence, coupled with an intense interest in learning about what’s really going on at the workplace.  Oddly enough, our top-ranking officer has come to learn that he finds out more about the hopes and concerns of our workers when he doesn’t speak.  Initially, he had me joining him to make sure he didn’t talk too much.  Over time, he’s become a pro at it.  My main responsibility now is to pick up the dinner tab and fret over my diminishing value to the company.

Practice Makes Perfect

While silence comes more easily to monks than to Alpha-males, it is a skill that can be learned and honed.  Here are 4 practical steps to get you started:

1. The next time you’re out driving, turn off the radio.  Likewise, resist the temptation to use your cell phone.  Besides being illegal, it’s dangerous to your life: interior as well as exterior.  Drive around in the glow of silence and pay attention to what your eyes notice and your soul surfaces.  There’s inspiration and beauty abounding.

Click here to see the rest of these skills .

 P.S.  If you’re thinking about writing me, give in to the temptation.   I love getting mail ... and being influenced by what you have to say.  Please contact me at www.kennythemonk.com .