 As an unrepentant extrovert, I'm often guilty, as many of us are, of feeling the need to fill the void in a conversation with my own brilliant thoughts, well-formulated or otherwise. In a meeting of colleagues or during a problem-solving session, this tenancy can be annoying or even counterproductive. The real challenge, however, comes when leaders are in discussion with subordinates and our well-intentioned words swamp the discussion and extinguish the free exchange of ideas. As we know, many subordinates can be overly deferential to authority and will happily wait as the leader proclaims solutions without always understanding the entirety of the context. As uncomfortable as silence can be for some of us, our people need time and space to formulate their thoughts and to express new ideas, especially in the precious few moments they have when conversing with their boss. Leaders can encourage this habit through active listening, open-ended questions, and resisting their urge to solve every problem on first glance. Embrace the silence and give the conversation the oxygen it needs. Lead well this week.