Silence in the workplace is common

Nearly nine out of ten people keep important remarks to themselves, according to a survey by researchers at the Stern School of Business in New York. Out of 40 professionals interviewed, 85% admitted they have given up on raising issues with their superiors. A quiet colleague might not be disengaged but could have important thoughts they are holding back.

Reasons for workplace silence

A 2003 study in the Journal of Management Studies by Frances Milliken and colleagues explored why people stay silent. The main reason was not a lack of ideas but fear of being poorly viewed and damaging important relationships. Another finding was that 74% of those who felt uncomfortable speaking up believed their colleagues, who were aware of the issue, also chose not to speak.

Talkative meetings may not be effective

In 2010, Anita Williams Woolley's team studied 699 people in groups of two to five, working on various tasks. Published in Science, the study found that group performance was not determined by average IQ or the smartest member. Instead, it improved when members could read each other's emotions and when speech was balanced, allowing more reserved individuals to contribute. This suggests that giving space to quieter members can make a team more effective.

Silence can be a leadership strength

A 2011 study in the Academy of Management Journal challenged the idea that leaders must be extraverted. Researchers found that very extraverted managers in a chain of pizzerias made more profits when their teams were passive but less when teams took initiative. In experiments, similar results were seen with teams folding t-shirts. The study suggested that more reserved leaders listen better and use employees' ideas, while extraverted leaders may feel threatened by them. Silence in meetings is not inherently a flaw or a strength but a signal that should be understood before assuming someone is uninvolved.