{"id":17850,"date":"2024-06-12T22:52:19","date_gmt":"2024-06-12T22:52:19","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/shop-cili.com\/?p=17850"},"modified":"2024-06-12T22:52:19","modified_gmt":"2024-06-12T22:52:19","slug":"4-ways-we-can-transform-our-silent-society","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/shop-cili.com\/?p=17850","title":{"rendered":"4 Ways We Can Transform Our Silent Society"},"content":{"rendered":"


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The speech anxiety crisis (our speak-down culture<\/em>) remains relatively hidden.<\/p>\n

It doesn\u2019t garner the same attention as more visible, heart-wrenching issues like war, disease, homelessness or famine. Moderate speech anxiety and its extreme cousin, glossophobia, don\u2019t make splashy headlines or capture the public imagination, partly because they\u2019re invisible\u2014in the shadows\u2014and we, as a society, often shrug when someone says, \u201cI don\u2019t have anything to say<\/em>\u201d or \u201cI\u2019m not getting up to speak. I\u2019m staying right here in my seat<\/em>.\u201d <\/p>\n

Unsurprisingly, of course, a vicious cycle exists: speech anxiety is rarely discussed since most people don\u2019t want to stand up and speak up or else risk being judged by their community, so voices often remain buried and silent.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s a silent epidemic that holds millions of people back from personal and professional development and, ultimately, society from being more vibrant, communicative and understanding. According to \u201cThe Heard and The Heard-Nots<\/em>,\u201d a study of over 4,000 employees found that \u201c74% of employees report they are more effective at their job when they feel heard<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n

From my many decades of attending various meetings, weddings and special events, I find most people sweat at the thought of speaking in front of others, so they too often choose to hide and not share their opinions and thoughts\u2014I can definitely relate from past experiences<\/em>. Meanwhile, a minority of people\u2014the natural communicators and leaders\u2014of the population seem to easily take the stage and influence the world with their viewpoints and perspectives.<\/p>\n

Consider what we lose as a society with millions (billions really) of people fearfully staying in their shells to avoid the public (speaking) square\u2014a whole heck of a lot<\/em>! A whole lot of misunderstanding and division. In 2011, a business survey by Fierce found that \u201c86% of employees cite the lack of effective collaboration and communication as the main causes for workplace failures<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n

Many valuable viewpoints remain unheard due to a culture of silence among so many spectators, negatively impacting the robustness of a healthy society both at home and in business.<\/p>\n

With fewer role models willing to speak up, future generations naturally inherit this silence, believing public speaking should be avoided rather than embraced. This cycle of silence, whether stemming from stage fright or maintaining a \u201cgood image<\/em>\u201d because of group conformity dynamics, prevents families, communities, schools and workplace environments from realizing their full potential.<\/p>\n

Is it perhaps that we\u2019ve normalized public speaking anxiety to the point where we accept it as inevitable rather than recognize it as a loss for society<\/em>?<\/p>\n

Even so, I believe our cycle of silence can be broken with awareness, effort and a shared will to better the world.<\/p>\n

But how<\/em>?<\/p>\n

We need a cultural shift in how we perceive public speaking\u2014from terrifying to empowering\u2014and this shift starts with each and every one of us. We need to see public speaking not as an object of dread but, I believe, as a vehicle for celebrating ourselves, our friends, our family and a more incredible world we all hope to live in. <\/p>\n

At all times, we must encourage everyone to speak up and give speeches. Starting in elementary school, we must prioritize oral communication and presentation skills. And in doing so, we\u2019ll foster deeper personal connections, a stronger sense of community and greater self-esteem in the process.<\/p>\n

Here are the roots of our silent society<\/em> as I see it\u2014<\/p>\n

Family values<\/h2>\n
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We often perceive family as a haven where we can express our thoughts and emotions without facing judgment. However, we must ask ourselves: Is this always the case? Or do our familial values and practices inadvertently contribute to the prevalence of those who feel inhibited by speaking in front of an audience<\/em>?<\/p>\n

Consider the classic Sunday dinner table scenario, a supposed arena for open and nurturing dialogue within many families. Yet, in some households, children are told, \u201cChildren should be seen, not heard<\/em>.\u201d This phrase, so casually thrown into conversations, is likely contributing to a culture of silence. I believe it sends a subtle message to the child that their voice is insignificant, their opinions unworthy of being shared. Unwittingly, despite best intentions, families are planting the seeds of speech anxiety in their children\u2019s minds: \u201cIt\u2019s best to sit down and remain quiet.\u201d<\/p>\n

Alternatively, a household that values active listening and encourages open discussions fosters confidence in children to express their thoughts. On the other hand, a family that suppresses communication and discourages dialogue\u2014like with my parents\u2014could inadvertently instill self-doubt and feelings of inadequacy.<\/p>\n

Another example lies in the way parents handle disagreements with their children. Some families might opt for a \u201cBecause I said so<\/em>\u201d approach, dismissing any form of counterargument from the child. While this strategy may provide a quick resolution to conflicts in the short term, in reality, to me, it seems to deny children the opportunity to learn how to articulate their thoughts and share their viewpoints with the world. It squelches personal development. Over time, this lack of practice hinders their ability to engage effectively in discussion and debate.<\/p>\n

My parents were unable to help give me the tools to speak up. They were more interested in my presenting a \u201cgood image<\/em>\u201d in my snazzy blazer and \u201cstaying out of trouble<\/em>.\u201d As a result, my parents were part of the silent majority of people who didn\u2019t have their voice, so they couldn\u2019t help encourage me to find\u2014or, in my case, keep mine. A vicious cycle, indeed.<\/p>\n

Furthermore, I find that cultural norms that emphasize respect for elders above all else sometimes discourage open dialogue. In these cultures, contradicting or questioning an elder\u2019s viewpoint is often seen as disrespectful. Thus, younger family members learn to hold their tongues and keep their thoughts to themselves. This silence, born out of respect, likely inadvertently nurtures apprehension to express one\u2019s opinion. As a result, we often find kids \u201czoning out\u201d on their phones with video games and YouTube videos.<\/p>\n

Of course, families can be wonderful\u2014and the aim here isn\u2019t to demonize families but to raise awareness of the potential consequences of these silencing practices. By recognizing these dynamics as a society, we can help reshape our familial values, encouraging open dialogue that nurtures our confidence levels so we can be more willing to speak up. With this shift, I believe we could make tremendous strides in giving future generations the gift to stand up and speak up frequently and confidently.<\/p>\n

Educational values<\/h2>\n
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