Strategic or habitual silence?
Lessons from a determined mother squirrel and a hapless canine
© 2009 Meryl Runion

            

Pictures do speak volumes, don’t they? I received this progression in an email yesterday.

Dog and mother squirrel photo
Dog and mother squirrel photo
Dog and mother squirrel photo
Dog and mother squirrel photo

This amazing rescue of a baby squirrel took me on an emotional ride and left me joyful for the rescued baby, impressed with the courageous mother, and only a bit sorry for the confused canine.

After my pictorial journey, I read the note from the sender that asked...

“Why didn’t the photographer run the dog off?”

It’s a great question – and one I didn’t consider asking. I wonder if the answer is that the photographer didn’t consider asking that question either – just like many of us don’t consider speaking up when we witness people in peril.

I don’t assume that’s why. Just as there are good reasons not to speak up when we have the opportunity to make a difference, there may be good reasons why the photographer chose to document rather than participate.

Or we may be making lame excuses. It’s always good to know which it is.

To overcome your lame excuses, I recommend my new book, Speak Strong.


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Meryl Runion and Speak Strong (SpeakStrong) provides Power Phrases (PowerPhrases) and other tools to help you improve communication skills at work and at home. You can read more about her at www.speakstrong.com.

Meryl is the author of six books on communication that have sold over a quarter million copies worldwide, including Speak Strong, PowerPhrases!, How to Use PowerPhrases, Perfect Phrases for Managers and Supervisors, and How to Say It: Performance Reviews. You can reach her at 719-684-2633, or by email:

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