The real cost of silence in executive teams

In my work with executive leadership teams, a consistent pattern emerges. Meetings appear productive. Decisions are “agreed.” Relationships remain cordial. Yet beneath the surface, important concerns remain unspoken, assumptions go untested, and expectations remain unclear.

Consequently, misalignment manifests.

Misalignment of understanding, expectations and commitments are the most common. Left unaddressed, the real cost compounds due to slower decision-making, rework, poor strategy execution, and declining trust. Silence is rarely neutral and always expensive.

Teams flounder because they hesitate to surface difficult issues, and seek to preserve harmony, avoid unnecessary conflict, and maintain momentum. However, when discomfort is prioritised over clarity, accountability weakens, informal alliances form and energy diverted to ‘issues management’ rather than value creation.

High performing teams that flourish, do not incur the ‘cost of silence’ as they create the space for divergent views to be surfaced early, examined rigorously, and resolved constructively.

Flourishing teams consistently demonstrate three high performing practices, they:

Listen Loudly, Speak Softly.

They replace certainty with curiosity. They listen more than they speak. They seek first to understand how others see the situation. Rather than say, “here’s what we should do,” they ask, “help me understand how you’re seeing this.”

Learn First, Judge Second.

Before forming conclusions, they surface assumptions. They explore what experiences, data, and beliefs are shaping different views. Instead of reacting, they ask, “what assumptions might be influencing our thinking here?”

Balance Advocacy and Inquiry.

They hold their views with confidence and humility. They share their perspectives clearly and then actively test them. Instead of defending, they ask, “here’s my view. What may I be missing?”

INVITATION

As a leader, if you want to know whether silence is costing your team, start with yourself. Ask honestly:

• What am I not saying right now?

• What tension am I smoothing over?

• What assumption have I not tested?

• Where am I choosing comfort over clarity?

• What commitment is still vague?

Flourishing begins with your personal courage. Lead the way.

May you flourish.