When Silence Speaks Loudest

The things people don't say in meetings often reveal more about culture than what they do say. The IRIE Eye learns to read these silences.

I came into this world with one eye closed. What the medical world calls strabismus amblyopia, I call my IRIE Eye. It taught me early to notice what others miss—the patterns beneath the surface, the dynamics in the room that shape what gets said and what stays silent.

In practice reviews and project debriefs, I've learned to listen for the silences. When someone suggests an innovative approach and the room goes quiet. When a junior team member raises a concern and gets a polite acknowledgement that leads nowhere. When equity gets mentioned and the conversation quickly pivots to "diversity initiatives."

These silences aren't neutral. They're data. They show where psychological safety thins, where hierarchy hardens, where culture constrains possibility.

The Cultural Assessment is designed to give voice to these silences. It asks questions that practices don't typically ask themselves. It reveals patterns that teams have felt but couldn't name. It creates permission to speak about culture explicitly.

Because transformation doesn't start when you have all the answers. It starts when you can finally ask the real questions.