The art of speaking less
May 12, 2013
-Karthik Gurumurthy
Susannah sat in her favorite coffee shop, stirring her latte thoughtfully as she waited for her friend Kelly. Their monthly catch-ups had become a cherished tradition, but today's conversation would be different. After years of working in corporate environments, Susannah had some wisdom to share.
Kelly burst through the door, her energy filling the quiet corner of the café. "You won't believe the meeting I just had!" she exclaimed, launching into a detailed account of her morning. Susannah smiled, remembering her younger self in Kelly's enthusiastic chatter.
"You know," Susannah began when Kelly finally paused for breath, "your story reminds me of something my grandmother used to say." She leaned forward, lowering her voice slightly. "She'd tell us that if a pot makes a lot of noise, it's only because it's empty."
Kelly's brow furrowed. "What do you mean?"
"Think about MS Dhoni-Indian team Cricket Captain," Susannah explained. "Everytime he has an opportunity to speak, he barely speaks—maybe few words—yet his presence commands attention. It's not just in Cricket; I've noticed this pattern throughout my career."
She went on to share her observations from years of corporate life: the CEO who spoke rarely but was heard clearly when she did, contrasted with the manager who filled every silence with words but somehow said nothing of substance.
"I've been guilty of it too," Kelly admitted, playing with her coffee cup. "Sometimes in meetings, I talk just because I feel like I should, or because I'm nervous. And during my last job interview? I couldn't stop rambling!"
Susannah nodded understandingly. "It's natural. We often talk too much when we're uncertain or trying to prove ourselves. But I've learned that silence can be a source of strength. When you speak less, you have more time to listen, to observe, to choose your words carefully."
She shared how she had recently handled a critical comment about her project by simply thanking the critic and remaining quiet, rather than launching into a defensive explanation. The result? Her calm silence had earned more respect than any words could have.
"But how do you know when to speak and when to stay quiet?" Kelly asked, genuinely curious now.
"It's about quality over quantity," Susannah explained. "Before speaking, I ask myself: Does this need to be said? Does it need to be said by me? Does it need to be said right now? It's like having a poker face in a game of power—the less people know about your thoughts, the more they respect your words when you do share them."
As they finished their coffee, Kelly seemed deep in thought. "I never realized how much power there could be in saying less," she reflected. "Maybe it's time I tried letting my actions and carefully chosen words speak for themselves."
Susannah smiled, knowing her friend had understood the lesson. Sometimes, the most profound conversations aren't about how much you say, but about what you choose to leave unsaid.
