The quiet police are real and are watching introverts 24/7 to make sure they are abiding by the laws of communication. Most of the time they take the form of friends and colleagues reminding us that we are being too quiet. Others are our consciences instilling guilt into our minds for not speaking up at the appropriate moments.
Despite this burdensome responsibility to “speak up” from time to time, no one should be pressured to talk if they don’t feel comfortable, or because others feel uncomfortable. We have a right to be ourselves and communicate in our preferred methods. However, there are times when it is not OK to stay silent.
Eliminate the obvious. We all know to speak when someone asks you a question or when someone acknowledges you. So when is talking mandatory?
When You Are the Conductor
A time will arrive when you have to talk in front of a crowd, no matter the size. Your role is the conductor, or the leader as most will call it, and you are giving instructions and sharing your insight or vision with eager listeners. You could also be entertaining a crowd if you are on a platform where you can express yourself artistically. The conductor role is utilized in all types of scenarios:
a teacher instructing a class
a manager speaking in a team huddle
a scientist giving a presentation in front of an audience
a comedian telling jokes
a poet reciting poetry
a singer or actor in a play
a Youtuber or Twitch streamer speaking to a digital audience
and much more
If you haven’t already, you will find yourself playing the role of a conductor someday. Hopefully, it will be a topic you are passionate about and the words will come out naturally.
When Asking Questions
Of course, whenever a person needs a question answered, they will ask the expert. Introverts may be able to bypass that solution by finding the answers on a reliable website. But there will come a time or more when asking questions, verbally, will be expected to show your worth and your enthusiasm. The most popular scenario is during a job interview or on-the-job training. While an employer may expect the applicant to have already done their homework on the position, they anticipate questions to be asked as a sign of this person is dedicated to learning all he can about our business. Let’s say after an interview the employer asks if there are any questions and the applicant says no, the employer may see that person as a total bore, someone that is interested in only money, or someone who will quit in a month, thus costing the company loads of money. If a job is interesting, the applicant should be eager to ask questions.
When Seeking Favors
No one can make it in this world alone, therefore, we cannot afford to be shy when it comes to asking favors. Most people do not mind helping others. It is a rewarding feeling that is good for the soul. Asking for help from someone you know or someone you do not know will make your life easier. It will form friendships and strengthen bonds. Doing tasks on our own may make us stronger as individual humans, but working together will make all parties stronger as a people.
When Something is Wrong
It is OK to be a snitch. When we see someone doing something wrong, like shooting fireworks in a residential area, it is an obligation to notify the authorities. If we are or witness someone become the victim of sexual misconduct, we must notify the police. If we see a classmate harassing another, we must “tell” a teacher. If we notice a person having suicidal thoughts, we must inform the proper channels. Staying silent and minding our own business will only hurt us as a people. The world is sick enough as it is.
In conclusion, to succeed in endeavors and become a reliable contributor to society, one with a quiet nature must escape their comfort zone from time to time and speak loud and proud. This notion is more of a common sense rule than a law established by extroverts. Life is about relationships, and communication is the way to develop a healthy, beneficial connection with good people. You will go far in life when you use your voice at the right time.
Comments