Open Your Mouth and Remove All Doubt

For many, the going strategy in meetings, whether in the business or personal realm, is to make sure your voice is heard. Whether you know about the topic or not, the person following this strategy will say something just so that people know that they are contributing.

And there are benefits to this strategy.

Many are timid or may know something or have an opinion, but fail to make their voice heard and the group is worse for it. To hear someone voice their point of view, or get involved in the discussion takes the pressure off these people– and the one speaking does get attention.

But how often is it that the person jumping in actually has something worth hearing? How often is the person just restating what everyone knows, and– at worst– wasting everyone’s time?

There is much wisdom in knowing when to speak:

The one who has knoweldge restrains his words,
and one who keeps a cool head
is a person of understanding.

Even a fool is considered wise when he keeps silent–
diserning, when he seals his lips.

Proverbs 17:27-28

I’ve meditated on verse 18 a lot, for I seem to be more on the end of letting people talk and not talking– and there is a downside to holding one’s tongue: people can project their thoughts and understanding onto you and that could create something you have to correct or live up to!

But the point I wanted to make is this– keeping silent or judging the right time to speak, is something that is very wise. It is important to make what you want to say not just noise to the hearer, since you always have something to say. A leader will keep what he says to the point and for the benefit of those who follow him.

On the flipside, the one that is constantly talking, trying to find something to say so that they are heard, are going to have that reputation, and are going to have some people tune them out simply because they are letting everyone know what they know and don’t know– about the topic and their audience.

Which would you choose to be?