Mark here. Here’s what we have in store for this week…
WHAT I’M WRITING ABOUT
The Power of Silence in Leadership
During my career, I once worked with a leader who struggled with one major weakness: the inability to embrace the beauty of silence. Despite his good intentions, he constantly discussed plans and challenges, talked over people, and jumped in when there was a pause, never allowing others to contribute. While he overcompensated with excessive planning, he failed to create space for insight and collaboration. The result? A team that felt unheard, disengaged, and ultimately stifled.
Silence, or the long intentional pauses between two or more people in a conversation, is a powerful leadership tool. It’s during those moments of quiet where the best ideas emerge. When we allow silence to settle, our rational mind settles, and our creative and intuitive mind can contribute. More importantly, silence opens up space for others to lead. If you’re constantly monopolizing a conversation, you’re unintentionally shutting down your team’s contributions, suppressing engagement and innovation. Collaboration is nurtured in the absence of noise, and your team will feel empowered.
Actionable Insight of the Day: In your next business meeting or crucial conversation, I urge you to experiment with the power of peace and silence. First, intentionally pause for 10–15 seconds after someone finishes speaking. Don’t rush to fill the gap. Instead, embrace the art of observation. This pause invites others to speak up, fosters reflection and promotes deeper collaboration.
As a leader, silence isn’t a weakness—it’s a strength. Tap into it to unravel your team’s full leadership potential.
NEW EPISODE – THE MARK DIVINE SHOW
Vertical Development
Episode # 499
Mark Divine, Ph.D., your host of The Mark Divine Show, is a Navy SEAL veteran and leadership expert. Mark holds a Ph.D. in Global Leadership and Change and has practiced Zen meditation and breathwork for over 30 years. His unique approach to leadership blends holistic, whole-person development with a focus on unlocking human potential. He has authored several bestselling books, including Unbeatable Mind and The Way of the SEAL. Mark lives in Encinitas, CA, with his wife, Sandy, their children, spirited grandchildren, and dogs. He is driven by a mission to inspire 100 million people to develop greater mental toughness, intuition, and compassion.
Podcast Highlights:
Mark explores the key difference between vertical and horizontal development in this solo cast—how vertical growth transforms who you are, not just your skills. Mark introduces his Five Mountain Framework, a powerful model for unlocking personal and team potential across the physical, mental, emotional, intuitional, and spiritual domains. This episode offers actionable insights for creating lasting transformation at the individual and organizational levels.
Vertical development…changes not just what you know and how you do things, but it changes who you are. – Mark Divine
PRACTICE OR HABIT TO TRY
The Art of Deep Listening: This week, dedicate time to becoming a better listener. Challenge yourself to focus on practicing active listening and mindful presence. Commit to engaging in every conversation, whether significant or small, with active listening—give the speaker your full attention and resist the urge to think about your response while they’re talking. Instead, show your engagement by nodding or offering short affirmations like, “I see” or “Go on.” In significant conversation, practice mindful presence by dedicating to listening without distractions. Put your phone away and focus solely on the conversation. For one week, make it a point to summarize what the other person said at the end of each conversation to ensure you’ve developed your listening skills.
P.S. If you enjoyed this email, reply here and let me know what you thought. I’d love to hear from you.
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Mark Divine is a New York Times best-selling author, leadership expert, entrepreneur, motivational speaker, and retired U.S. Navy SEAL Commander. He is also the founder and CEO of Unbeatable and SEALFIT.
