When Silence is Golden

Perhaps I should not be surprised given my busy speaking schedule that I would one day lose my voice.

I am of course talking literally as opposed to figuratively.

Despite my best efforts to push through what had been a very sore throat, I awoke one morning to find that I could no longer talk.

While both disappointing and somewhat frustrating, it did get me to thinking about a Time magazine article I read this past May titled “Talk Your Way to Success” by Lauren Simonds.

In her article, Simonds talked about the importance of effective communication in terms of a company’s growth and success. This of course is no surprise as you have to be heard to be seen, and seen to succeed.

However, there are other important ways to get noticed that extends well beyond what you say in the here and now, including the strength of your personal brand. When I refer to the strength of your personal brand, I am talking about the past experiences that others have had with you and how it has shaped their view of your value. Or to put it another way, have you walked your talk!

Ultimately, the value of your words only mean something if they are consistent with your past actions and results.

For example, have you delivered on your promises in the past? Did you complete a project on time or, fulfill a client expectation?

If you consistently fall short, your voice over time will ultimately be muted even if you do not literally lose your ability to speak.

So how or when is silence golden? When it provides you with an opportunity to stop talking and start assessing your ability to make a truly positive impact within your world.

So are you?

Do you know the difference between the fear of success and the fear of failure?

My guide How To Make 2015 Your Breakout Year will not only help you to recognize the common obstacles that befall all of us, it will also enable you to take action within the framework of your own unique gifts and abilities to make this year your most successful ever.

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