Silence Kills - Love Enough to Speak
June 10th, 2004 by HalSilence is the principal source of dysfunction in organizations.
Clarke Ching sent along the latest VitalSmarts whitepaper Silence Kills, by Joseph Grenny. The paper is one in a series on Crucial Conversations: Tools for Talking When Stakes are High, Patterson, et al. I've authored a paper with Greg Howell on wastes in organizations and on projects. There certainly is no greater waste than death. Greg and I argue that the two sources of great waste are not speaking and not listening. While you'll have to wait for publication of our paper on August 3rd, don't wait reading Grenny's take on silence.
Silence is the principal source of dysfunction in organizations. Using examples of deaths in hospitals, the downfall of companies, and the gross tragedy of the Columbia shuttle, Grenny describes how a habit of silence during crucial conversations kills.
Choose speaking rather than silence to keep people alive.
Everyday on jobsites people avoid speaking about hazards, the recklessness of others' actions, and the inattention to the sanctity of life. The consequence of that silence is 1,300 injuries and 3 deaths each day. I've been quick to place responsibility for that silence at the feet of management. Grenny reports on a study of hand-washing in hospitals. The single greatest factor in having medical staff wash their hands at the appropriate frequency is the hand-washing example set by the senior staff. It is not training, nor is it the availability of sinks. What safety example do you set when you walk a site, in your conversations with workers, and in the actions you take? If we can generalize from hospital hand-washing, then your conversations and actions have more significance to the safety on the jobsite than the safety program.
Having said that, silence is a choice. What is the threshold at which we refuse to remain silent. Is it self interest? Must your life be threatened before you cross that threshold? Or, can you choose to speak at the first recognition that we are not doing all we can to care for the sanctity of all life? Can you do that? Sure you can. And I can. And everyone on our jobsites can.
We lack neither the know-how, nor the capability — speaking — for avoiding the needless deaths of construction workers. Perhaps, it is only a lack of love that is preventing those deaths. Love is the one resource with an endless supply. Giving love creates more love. Show your love to keep everyone safe. Choose speaking rather than silence.
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