Unlearning Silence

Having a seat at the table doesn't mean that your voice gets heard. Knowing something is wrong doesn't make it easy to speak up. But this silencing - intentional or not - has profound consequences on our work and life. It blocks talent, skews decisions and causes teams and individuals to fail. So what if there was another way?

Drawing on her experience as a lecturer at Harvard Law School and as a Managing Partner at one of the world's leading leadership development companies, Elaine Lin Hering delves into the roots of silence, examining the patterns that keep us trapped, and showcases the impact that rewiring unconscious behaviours can have on innovation, creativity and collaboration.

From the boardroom to the classroom, from personal relationships to wider communities, Hering shows us how we can have more authentic conversations, foster inclusive spaces and amplify all voices. Because only by unlearning silence can we fully unleash talent, speak our minds, and be more complete versions of ourselves... and help other people do the same.

Review

We cannot heal our world if we do not unlearn silence. An inviting and essential read -- Alex Elle, New York Times bestselling author of How We Heal

Too often, we are told we are the problem. Books tell us to just be more confident. To show up and then speak up. Elaine goes deeper and shows us that the silence we've been indoctrinated by runs deep and it is what holds us back and makes us feel small. A must read for every leader -- Deepa Purushothaman, author of The First, The Few, The Only

A call to action for anyone who has been underestimated, told they shouldn’t speak out, and confined by stereotypes. Elaine has brilliantly pulled together a much-needed roadmap for those looking to use the strength of their voice to build the teams, lives, and companies we need, while bringing out the best from the people they lead ― Eric Toda, Director, Social Marketing at Meta & Managing Director of Meta Prosper

We can't solve the world's most pressing problems - and innovate our way into the future - if we perpetually silence ourselves and others. Elaine turns conventional, inadequate advice to "just speak up" into actionable and effective strategies. A game-changer for teams and leaders everywhere -- Dorie Clark, bestselling author of The Long Game and Executive Education Faculty at Columbia Business School

This book will transform your relationship with silence so that your voice can finally be heard. -- Simon Alexander Ong, author of Energize

Challenges conditioned thoughts and ultimately behaviour on silence – an excellent book for leaders! -- Jane Oremosu, co-founder of I-Cubed and co-author of My Little Black Book: A Blacktionary

Unlearning Silence is the book I wish I had when I started my career. Hering not only proves why silence is toxic, but, critically, goes a step further and shows us how to speak up in a way that is safe, values aligned, and has the greatest chance of being impactful. This book is going to change the workplace for the better. -- Pooja Lakshmin, author of Real Self-Care

Unlearning Silence is a book to be treasured, read and re-read, shared and spoken about. It offers realistic tools for leaders to create a culture which encourages better listening, values all voices and where teams and individuals can thrive. If you’ve ever been frustrated by the advice to ‘just speak up’ and ‘own your truth’, then you will find strength in Elaine Lin Hering’s nuanced and practical approach. Books have the power to change how we think. Unlearning Silence goes one further: a book that has the conviction to change how we act. -- Megan Reitz, Fellow at Saïd Business School, Oxford University and author of Dialogue in Organisations and Speak Out, Listen Up

About the Author

Elaine Lin Hering is a facilitator, speaker and writer. She works with organisations and individuals to build skills in communication, collaboration and conflict management. In her career, Elaine has worked on six continents and with a wide range of corporate, government and non-profit clients. She has trained mental health professionals, political officials, religious communities, and leaders at companies including American Express, Capital One, Google, Nike, Novartis, Shell, Pixar and the Red Cross. Elaine is a former Managing Partner of Triad Consulting Group and Lecturer on Law at Harvard Law School, specializing in dispute resolution, mediation, and negotiation.