Welcome to the KUW Insight Podcast. Today’s insight is titled The Power of Silence written by Ade Ojomo and read by Atinuke Akinbulumo
Welcome to the KUW Insight Podcast. Today’s insight is titled The Power of Silence written by Ade Ojomo and read by Atinuke Akinbolomo
Why do we do struggle to keep quiet for a period of time? Why do we feel that we must always have something to say? Why do we feel that we need to shout to be heard?
Over the many years in my role as a management consultant, I can safely conclude that most of us struggle with the concept of silence. Maybe we feel that keeping quiet makes us weak.
Alternatively maybe we feel insecure and foolish because of what other people will think if we don't contribute to a discussion. Even on social media, we sometimes feel pressured to respond with ticking the ‘comment’ or ‘like’ icon without even giving any thought about the consequences
I hosted a meeting some years ago and asked all the participants to remain silent for 10 mins. 2 mins into the exercise, you could feel the frustration in the room as most of the participants started getting edge and fidgety.
The Bible helps us to address this topic with some useful case studies that point to the power and wisdom of silence:
Isaiah 30 v 15 gives us some premium advice - “In quietness and confidence shall be our strength”
Job 13 v 5 - gives some further advice - “Oh that you would be silent, And it would be your wisdom”
Proverbs 17 v 28 goes on to say that - “Even fools are thought wise when they keep silent; with their mouths shut, they seem intelligent”.
The last statement seems to imply that a wise man says nothing because he wants to listen and observe; choose silence over valueless discussions; out of humility not show off their expertise; and choose when to and when not to engage.
The mystery behind silence is so intriguing because it makes people uncomfortable as they try to figure out what is going on in our minds and how we propose to respond to situations.
In some cases they make the wrong assumptions about situations and individuals as evident in the response of the Pharisees and the Sadducees who could not handle the Silence of Jesus
Proverbs 23 v 23 further points out the danger of noise - The wise don’t make a show of their knowledge, but fools broadcast their foolishness.
Another case study that reinforces the power of silence is shown in 2 Kings 18 v 35 - 36 - Hezekiah’s response to a threat from the enemy:
What god of any nation has ever been able to save its people from my power? So what makes you think that the Lord can rescue Jerusalem from me?” But the people were silent and did not utter a word because Hezekiah had commanded them, “Do not answer him.”
I end this ‘insight’ with details of 2 strategic thinking frameworks that I used at a workshop to illustrate the importance of silence in the decision making process:
Framework No 1 - P.O.N.D.E.R - P(Pause) O (Observe) N (Note) D (Discern) E (Evaluate) R (Reflect) Framework No 2 - F.O.C.U.S - F (Fixed) O (Observe) C (Consider) U (Understand) S (Silence)