Have you ever wondered why people seem to have plenty to say after a meeting, but very little to say while they are actually in the room?
In this solo episode of Becoming Unshakable, I’m talking about why employees stop speaking up and what that silence may be telling us about trust, psychological safety, and belonging inside a team.
People rarely stop contributing because they suddenly stop caring. More often, they have learned through experience that speaking honestly is not worth the risk. Maybe they have been interrupted, dismissed, criticized, or watched someone else pay a price for challenging an idea. Over time, silence can become a form of self-protection.
I also look at what psychological safety actually means. It is not about making every conversation comfortable. It is about creating an environment where people can ask questions, admit mistakes, disagree respectfully, raise concerns, and tell the truth without fearing embarrassment or retaliation.
I share practical questions leaders can use to examine what is happening in their own meetings. Who always speaks first? Who rarely speaks at all? Whose ideas are developed, and whose are ignored? What happens when someone disagrees with you?
Because silence is data. When people stop speaking, we should not automatically assume everything is fine.
So when was the last time someone on your team challenged one of your ideas, and what happened next?
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WHEN YOU’RE READY, HERE’S HOW WE CAN HELP:
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About Heather R Younger, J.D., CSP
Heather R Younger, J.D., CSP is a highly sought-after speaker, 2x-TEDx speaker, diversity, equity and inclusion strategist, and contributor to leading news outlets. She is also the Founder and CEO of Employee Fanatix, a leading employee engagement and consulting firm. After over 25,000 employee engagement surveys and years of working with organizations to transform employee engagement, here’s what Heather has seen over and over: When you know how to listen, employees will tell you exactly what they need to bring their full selves to work. Book Heather to speak at your event or organization.
Visit heatheryounger.com or https://www.cmispeakers.com/heather-r-younger for more details.
