–AUTHOR: ÖZKAN KIVANÇ–
Silver or Gold? The Most Valuable Investment for Leaders…
There are certain sayings that, at first, sound like elegant metaphors… But over time, through lived experience, they take on much deeper meaning. “If speech is silver, then silence is golden” is one of those.
At first, it seems to be simply about not speaking. But when you mix in a little life, a little leadership, and a little human connection, you realize… silence isn’t just silence. It’s often about choosing to truly listen.
And when you look back, you’ll find that the most impactful leaders were first and foremost great listeners.
Why Are Silence and Listening So Valuable in Leadership?
Strong leaders aren’t just skilled speakers — they also know how to stay quiet and listen deeply.
Over the years, in countless consulting settings, I’ve observed how silence in a conversation can feel uncomfortable — and how hard it is for one of the parties to resist the urge to break it.
But in consulting, listening is essential — to generate solutions, to guide direction, and to develop strategies.
In that process, I’ve come to understand listening as a layered skill: it involves curiosity, patience, silence, and creating space. And in coaching, I’ve seen how those layers deepen — how sometimes, even without saying a single word, a powerful connection can be formed.
A Leader’s True Investment: Staying Present
“What time is the next meeting?”, “I already have a suggestion for this issue,” “I need to leave before traffic gets bad,” or “What should I buy for that birthday this weekend?” Thoughts like these can cloud the real value of communication.
But a leader who can stay in the moment listens with curiosity, asks meaningful questions, and knows how to use the golden power of silence. Because sometimes, in that very silence, the real issue begins to reveal itself.
Listening Is Even Harder Today — But Just As Valuable
With constant notifications, screens, and the never-ending pace of modern life, it’s becoming harder and harder to focus our attention. But let’s be honest — leadership has never been easy.
If you choose to consciously embrace silence in your next conversation — just as the proverb suggests — and listen deeply, you’ll start to hear something else emerge: Recurring words, underlying themes, and sometimes the true topic hidden behind the surface conversation.
A Perspective from Julian Treasure: Listening Is a Skill
Sound expert Julian Treasure, in his TED Talk “5 Ways to Listen Better,” says:
“Listening is a skill. And it should be taught in schools.” He adds, “Conscious listening is the key to understanding.”
I couldn’t agree more.
Because understanding leads to asking the right questions — and questions are the gateway to learning.
Even AI Starts By Listening
Here’s the interesting part: even artificial intelligence — the language of our time — begins with silence.
It listens first: to systems, to processes, to the input we provide. While we often rush to respond, AI takes a moment. It thinks, listens, tries to understand. There’s a powerful lesson in that:
In leadership, sometimes we need to step back — to hear the process, to make space for real understanding.
Curiosity and Listening: The Doorway to Learning in Leadership
True understanding begins with curiosity. And a curious, attentive leader doesn’t just hear what is said — they perceive what isn’t.
So, as a leader…
What are you investing in?
Silver?
Or gold?
Özkan Kıvanç
Professional Certified Coach, ICF, Former PwC Partner
okivanc@theintegralinstitute.com