Selective Silence Speaks Volumes

Selective silence can also be effective in preventing podiatric/oral incursion.

Selective silence, eh? So that is what it is called.

I have a couple of ex-wives that are able to demonstrate the technique.

This is one of those deceptively simple things that are a great tool. I am not a real confrontational guy, but have been in a supervisory/managerial position my whole career.

It does not work with everybody. There are a small number of folks that simply want to get maximum pay for minimum work.

But I honestly believe that the majority of folks really do want to do a good job. I also think that when they have failed in some respect, that they often feel bad about it. If you let them, they will often beat themselves up more than you ever would.

If you go in and yell, everybody feels bad. Go in, look the person in the eye, and make a simple direct statement, and the employee will open up to you. Often they are more critical of their performance than you would have been, and layout their own correction plan. You accomplish what you want, the employee has saved face, and is relieved that he did not get yelled out. Everybody wins.

The main problem is encountering someone else who uses the technique. It only has power if you make the other person speak first. I once sat eye to eye with another executive for 5 minutes (I'm sure it was shorter, but felt like forever) in silence. I broke first.

1. Let your employees/crew people provide thoughts on problem solving.

2. Don't shoot them down or bad mouth their ideas.

3. Give the 'pat on the back' when it is due.

4. Or morale goes straight down the tubes and crew get the 'management don't give a s___ about me, I don't give a s___ about work. Just here to do my job and go home' attitude.