āDonāt mistake silence for disengagementā. As a leader in a room you have to be able to sit in the awkward moments of silence and engage people who are the deep thinkers. To do that start before you enter the room, it is easier to speak up when prepared.
The loudest voices rarely represent the majority. They're usually speaking for the extremes.
You won't understand the views of a group until you've invited the quieter voices into the discussion.
Don't mistake silence for disengagement. It's often a sign of deep reflection.