Sometimes, the most impactful thing you can do is be quiet. You don’t always have to speak—listening and observing are just as powerful. This applies to coaching, the military, and life itself.
As a coach, overloading an athlete with unnecessary words can do more harm than good. Instead of filling the space with jargon, watch them move. Not every mistake needs an immediate correction—there’s value in letting them figure things out on their own. Growth comes from experience, not just instruction.
“Shut up and observe. The body speaks louder than words.”
— Dan Pfaff
(Elite track & field coach known for coaching Olympic medalists.
In the military, communication should be clear, concise, and purposeful. Giving orders effectively means saying what needs to be said—nothing more, nothing less. Overexplaining your plan often signals insecurity, as if you’re trying to convince yourself rather than inspire confidence in others.
And in life? We all know how it goes—the loudest person in the room is rarely the most influential. True power lies in knowing when to speak, not just having something to say. Silence isn’t a weakness; it’s a tool.
A quote I live by:
“A wise man speaks because he has something to say; a fool speaks because he has to say something.”
— Jay Jones
