The Stories We Don’t Tell

Some professionals think withholding information gives them a leg up or makes them look more competent. That is not the flex they think it is. Not sharing information so you can appear like the “know-it-all” is a harmful form of storytelling.

Silence is a story; it’s just not a very helpful one.

As a lover of words and all things communication, I believe we empower others by adding to the body of knowledge, not just taking from it. When we withhold information, we create confusion and mistrust. We encourage environments where people spend more time guessing than contributing. It’s wasteful, irresponsible, and unprofessional.

And what’s more is people can feel when something is being kept from them. They can sense that energy. And when we employ silence in the workplace, those stories speak louder than the spoken ones.

• When leaders stay silent during change, employees fill in the gaps.
• When teams hoard information, collaboration breaks down.
• When clarity is missing, negative assumptions permeate.

Withholding information makes work harder. It erodes trust and creates a toxic environment. The opposite of withholding is transparency, and this is key to building trust. It increases respect, instills values, and builds success. The stories we tell shape culture; but the stories we don’t tell harm it.

As a professional communicator, my work is rooted in helping organizations replace silence with clarity. Because when people have the information they need they don’t just perform better, they feel better too. And that’s the kind of workplace where everyone can thrive.