Why shutting up in meetings is not such a bad idea

Talking less or being quieter in meetings allows you to lean back and start to listen more. Listening more means learning different ideas and getting new opinions. Meetings are not games that are meant to be won by people who speak the most or a one-man show where the rest just sheepishly nod. If there’s one problem that plagues most meetings it’s that a few participants are doing most of the talking.

So, are you among the people who just can’t keep quiet in meetings? It could be, that you talk to seek acknowledgment or simply because you are nervous and uncomfortable with silence. However, keeping quiet is a valuable skill in meetings. You appear to be more confident and intelligent. Plus, it will surprise you how much you can learn from just listening.