๐๐จ๐ญ ๐๐ฅ๐ฅ ๐ซ๐ข๐ฌ๐ค๐ฌ ๐ข๐ง ๐๐ก๐๐ง๐ ๐ ๐ฉ๐ซ๐จ๐ฃ๐๐๐ญ๐ฌ ๐๐จ๐ฆ๐ ๐ฐ๐ข๐ญ๐ก ๐ ๐ฐ๐๐ซ๐ง๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ฅ๐๐๐๐ฅ.
Change managers often focus on the โsqueaky wheelsโ โ vocal stakeholders who loudly question changes or openly resist them. They can be demanding and challenging, but at least theyโre visible. You know where they stand.
The real danger may be Silent Suzy. Silent Suzy nods politely, says little, or quietly steps back. Her silence isnโt agreement. ๐๐ญ ๐๐๐ฌ๐ญ, ๐ข๐ญโ๐ฌ ๐ ๐ฆ๐ข๐ฌ๐ฌ๐๐ ๐จ๐ฉ๐ฉ๐จ๐ซ๐ญ๐ฎ๐ง๐ข๐ญ๐ฒโ๐ฏ๐๐ฅ๐ฎ๐๐๐ฅ๐ ๐๐จ๐ง๐๐๐ซ๐ง๐ฌ ๐ ๐จ ๐ฎ๐ง๐ก๐๐๐ซ๐, ๐๐ง๐ ๐ฌ๐ฆ๐๐ซ๐ญ ๐ข๐ง๐ฌ๐ข๐ ๐ก๐ญ๐ฌ ๐ฌ๐ญ๐๐ฒ ๐ญ๐ฎ๐๐ค๐๐ ๐๐ฐ๐๐ฒ. Worse, the silence may hide passive resistance or active sabotage that will derail the change.
Engaging these quiet stakeholders takes extra effort. It means noticing who stays silent, asking them good questions, and listening for real understanding.
๐๐ก๐๐ญ ๐๐ฑ๐ญ๐ซ๐ ๐๐๐๐จ๐ซ๐ญ ๐ข๐ฌ ๐๐ซ๐ฎ๐๐ข๐๐ฅ – ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐จ๐๐ฃ๐๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐ฌ ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ ๐๐จ๐งโ๐ญ ๐ก๐๐๐ซ ๐๐ซ๐ ๐จ๐๐ญ๐๐ง ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐จ๐ง๐๐ฌ ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ญ ๐ก๐ฎ๐ซ๐ญ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐ฆ๐จ๐ฌ๐ญ.
How do you surface silent dissent before it becomes a roadblock?
I teach and consult about highly effective projects, portfolios, and teams.ย You can contact me at [email protected] and read more at spspro.com/blog.