Know when to listen and when to speak

- It can be hard to get the balance right … of when to listen and when to speak at work. … You don't want to be the office blowhard, … commenting on anything and everything … just to hear yourself talk, … but you also don't want to be the wallflower, … so quiet no one's even sure what you do or why you're there. … So how can you tell what's the right move when? … Here are some ways to think about it. … A great time to listen … is when you don't know the context of a situation. … Let's say you're new at your job … or you've just joined a project team … that's been together for a while. … They have a shared history, … and they know what's been tried before, … and what worked and what didn't. … There are also likely complex dynamics … you're not aware of between people on the team … or between different departments. … If you come in with all the answers, … you're likely to get knocked down fast … because you don't understand the background. … In that situation, sit back and listen, … so you can have the knowledge …