When Silence is communication.......

I cannot fully recall how the debate started but all I can remember is that we were having a debate about the communicative power of silence. I found the debate intellectually stimulating and decided to on my own learn a few facts about silence and communication. Of course I had to try and see how it links to my two pet areas of preoccupation –politics and internal organisational communication.

Meaningful silence as advanced by Johannsen (1974) and Jaworski (1993) is where thought processes are involved and the hearer of the message intentionally withholds a response to the speaker. The speaker is left to use his/her own means to find out the response which more often is gotten from the nonverbal cues.

Now, the 2017 general elections are just around the corner. Aspirants and incumbents in equal measure are running like headless chicken in early campaigns earnestly  trying to convince voters that they are the best choices.

For incumbents, anything that seems to oppose or speak contrary of their “development record” is and should not be entertained at any cost. Elected leaders particularly are spending a fortune convincing their followers to keep quiet, to overlook their failures, and if need be sing their praises. On the other hand, aspirants only need to highlight the failures real or perceived and hope that the silent listeners can help them capitalise on the same and get elected.

Any person who is communicating ought to know that silence is not always an indication of agreement. Neither does it mean conformity nor compliance. Silence could be an indication of fear or coercion or even lack of an opportunity to give a feedback or simply lack of motivation. Many aspiring politicians will tell you that they lost all their hard earned sweat as they talked to people who silently listened to them and did not vote for them when the crucial time came.

It is important to note that when people keep quiet, they have heard the message and just postpone their decision to speak to a later date. And when they speak through voting action, the message is so loud and clear that it resonates. Srividya Srinivasan observes that most of the conversations we are ever likely to have with people are the ones we do not and cannot say. In essence, when we communicate we withhold so much by keeping quiet.

Harold Pinter says as much when he underscores the importance of silence. “The speech we hear is an indication of that which we don’t hear. It is a necessary avoidance, a violent, sly and anguished or mocking smokescreen which helps keep the other in its true place.” His final remarks are particularly a warning shot when he notes that “when true silence falls into place we are not only left with an echo but are nearer nakedness.” 

So don’t be left naked while you can cover yourself by using the best communications strategists available. 

Talk to us at Top Liners Communication Consultancy for the best and winning communication strategy. 

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