Ralph Liebing, RA, CSI, CDT
Senior Member
Username: rliebing
Post Number: 1242
Registered: 02-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, June 08, 2011 - 12:26 pm: |    |
110608
SILENCE IS………………………..
by Ralph Liebing, RA, CSI, CDT
Cincinnati, OH
Pop quiz!
Silence is;
a. golden!
b. tacit approval
c. an act of rejection
d. non-controversial
e. the easiest thing to do [as in ”ignore”]
f. not always the best response [as in “acquiescence" or “abdication”]
Everyday there are a zillion things that are met with…..silence! The vast majority of those “things” are valid; they may be true or untrue; good and bad; proper and improper; but they all receive nothing but quiet! So what does that really mean? We ask because it is known that most of these “things” are heard, read or experienced-- but the reaction is the very same-- NOTHING!!
Holding things in, choosing to remain quiet, knowing but ignoring, suffering with and indifference are personal human traits that all too often result in bad things happening, or good things wilting and dying on the vines for lack of expression or support. Good, true and valid efforts are just left to fall off the cliff into some abyss [for things left undone, or forgotten]. Yet we cannot comment or react to everything we experience each day-- can we? So we retreat to the place where we react and comment only when we are directly impacted-- then hear us squeal, yell, moan, gripe, challenge and confront [verbally!]
Yet we can’t comment simply because it takes extra time-- and hopefully thought-- and in the end we really don’t care. So is silence, neglectful, hurtful, criminal [?], a symptom of the disease called “head-in-the-sand-it is”?
Oddly enough, as spec writers we get “two bites of the apple”-- during design and in the documentation. It is almost our professional responsibility, obligation and duty to bring forth information important for the project but not broached by others—our input is most unique. We can both augment and clarify points and problems beyond what others can do. In these instances our professional knowledge is most worthwhile and needs to be 180 degrees from silence. We are not acting outside our firm’s obligations or creating controversies, but rather noting information and work items that can [and perhaps] should be modified for a better project.
This is not to advocate “busy-bodiness”, but rather to suggest that we all need to be judicious [but perhaps resolute or even forceful at times] in these circumstances, and we should break the silence more often-- not in confrontation, necessarily, but in an effort to resolve, add another important, insightful and experienced and knowledgeable viewpoint or clarification and make things better. Quite often one expressed opinion or comment will bring forth many others, not as protest but as constructive input. Combined a series of such comments becomes a revealing indication of need for change, support, celebrating success, or merely forming a small consensus that can bring good. Non-silence at the right times is a highly regarded and valuable professional skill-- best developed early and used judiciously!
So see fit to comment when so moved; be direct but not in a fighting mood; be constructive and most of all, be professional. It becomes you and validates your comments.
And may we add to the initial list, above—
Silence can be “dangerous”! [both to you and others in several ways] |
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