The Power Hidden in Silence

Silence is the true home of great powers

One day, the gods find themselves in a heated argument:"Who can achieve the greatest victory?" they ask. Ares, in a rage, swings his sword and splits the seas. Poseidon stirs up towering waves, threatening the cities. Everyone shouts and fights to display their strength. Only Athena remains silent.

Without uttering a word, she takes a handful of soil and plants a small olive branch. At first, no one understands. They mock her. But as time passes, the branch grows into a tree. It offers shade, fruit, wood, and life. And the people come to Athena. Because for them, true victory lies not in the sword, but in taking root. Athena triumphs not through noise, but through permanence.

Even today, leadership follows the same rule: It’s not the loudest voice that wins,but the one who forges the deepest bonds.

Neuroscience now clearly shows: The human brain doesn’t just process words; it also senses whether it is truly being listened to. This feeling directly influences trust, commitment, and the quality of communication.

When someone feels truly heard, specific regions of the brain, particularly in the prefrontal cortex (emotional evaluation) and social connection circuits, become activated.

A 2012 fMRI study showed that when individuals felt genuinely listened to,their levels of oxytocin (the bonding hormone) increased, reducing stress and facilitating cooperation.

Another study in 2016 (USC, 2016) revealed that:

• Team members who felt listened to produced 55% more creative solutions,

• and took 67% more responsibility.

Conversely, when people feel unheard, the amygdala (the threat detection center) becomes activated,leading to stress, withdrawal, and resistance.

True listening builds an invisible bridge of trust within a team. A bridge that makes it easier to solve crises and encourages initiative.

Ultimately, a leader’s true impact is not measured by grand speeches,but by their ability to make the other person feel: "You matter to me." And this feeling often begins in silence.

It’s not grand words that solve crises; it’s the deep silence preserved at the right moment.

Remember Athena:The less you speak, the deeper you take root;the less you speak, the more you guide.

Sometimes I think: if only someone had reminded all my former CEOs and even myself of this earlier... If we had listened and applied these lessons, so much could have been different. But when it comes to positive actions—and especially to making corrections—it is never too late.

I conclude with a phrase that reflects the spirit of Lao Tzu's teachings:"Silence is the true home of great powers."