With over 20 years in consulting and pre-sales, I've come to accept that Radio Silence comes with the territory.
In professional terms, Radio Silence denotes the unexpected silence from individuals or groups, even when communication would be considered customary or courteous.
I've been guilty of it myself, and it can be disheartening when it comes from a valued relationship in your network.
So, how should one handle it? Reacting with frustration, interpreting it as rudeness or a lack of courtesy, or succumbing to anxiety, assuming you've somehow offended them, are the least productive responses.
Robert Cass 🟢 🟡 / 🔵 🔴 captures this sentiment well during his Insights Discovery workshops when he talks about "The Ladder of Perception", which shows how people see things differently based on their experiences and beliefs, reminding us to consider others scenarios and not always jump to the worst conclusion.
To begin, it's crucial to understand the common reasons behind Radio Silence:
- They might be too overwhelmed or busy to respond.
- Other priorities could be demanding their attention.
- They might get distracted and forget to respond (I'm certainly guilty of this!).
- They may need to address something before engaging with you.
- They value your work but the timing isn't right.
In my two decades of navigating Radio Silence, I've gleaned two key insights:
1) It's not about you! External factors beyond your control may be the real cause.
2) Though it might take weeks or even months, in nearly all cases of Radio Silence I've encountered, they eventually reach out, often when the timing aligns.
So, what's the best approach to Radio Silence?
Practice patience and empathy. If you're confident in the value you offer and proficient at your craft, they'll likely reconnect when the time is right.
Robert Cass 🟢 🟡 / 🔵 🔴, Anthony Kandi, Robert Hogeland, Simone Hambrook, Betty Trajkovski, Sushrut Kamath, Annie Spiteri, Devon White, Jason Wu, Anna W.
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