“Do you have something to say?”
So I haven’t really found my niche here at Mason and it is mostly because I never really talk. I stay in my room often and I never let people know how i feel or what I am thinking. My mom sent me this the other day and it really spoke to me.
I think as a good leader, knowing when to say something and knowing when to let other talk is a great quality. If you are constantly talking you cannot hear what others have to say and their advice would be more useful then something you thought of yourself. I think those that are continuously sharing their thoughts and options are very selfish and one-minded. They think that everything they say is the best and will be useful for everyone. However those that listen to everyone and speak only when needed have a better picture of what could be useful to the group as a whole.
Plato is saying that you do NOT always have to say something. You could learn exponentially more by listening to others. People also look at you differently if you stay silence and only put your input in when needed. I know we have all noticed when that one person that never talks finally speaks up and what they have to say is absolutely genius. As if they have been listening the entire time and when they have something that would be beneficial they announce it.
I strive to be that person, just the same way no one likes a ball hog… no one likes someone that does not know how to be quiet!
-keilah S
December 5th, 2012 at 10:01 am
I LOVE THIS! I can actually relate to this. Once I came out of my shell, I would just never stop talking. I noticed that I only listened in order to talk again. I wasn’t aware of that, until my teacher noticed it and called me out. She said that I was listening, but meanwhile thinking about what I wanted to say. I never meant to seem off rude or so, but it was all done unconsciously. However, once I realized what I was doing, I trained myself to really listen with no back thoughts in my head to give that other person my time and attention fully to him/her. It took me a while, but I believe that listening is so much important that the actual talking. I love this motto: “Listen a hundred times; ponder a thousand times; speak once.”
December 5th, 2012 at 12:26 pm
Keilah, I see your side! I can definitely appreciate someone who knows when to listen. At times, I’ll be a part of a group and I’m being quiet. It’s because I’m listening and I genuinely don’t have anything to say! But, when I DO have something to say, the group will know. =D
Agreed: filling empty space with noise (useless talking) is irritating!