Loose Lips Sink Ships
Henry here today. Loose Lips Sink Ships. That was one of the themes in war time. It was an attempt to keep naturally gregarious people from spilling vital information about the war to the enemy. I suppose it was partially successful. Extroverts would probably find it nearly impossible to talk about some things, even if it was dangerous.
The opposite seems to be happening in Canada in the new Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s office (The PMO). What he is accused of, is that because Harper is such an introvert, he is setting the tone both for his PMO and for his whole government. Like a true introvert, he likes to play his cards close to his vest, largely keeping things to himself.
This is not the way others expect government to function. People expect that government will put out feelers, will discuss possibilities, and will bring people on board by letting them in on its plans. Introverts are not very apt to do this, and Prime Minister Harper seems to be a typical introvert.
No loose lips with his PMO or with his government. Introverts, and extroverts for that matter, need to realize how they strike others. What may be absolutely typical for an introvert, others may find secretive, withholding, withdrawn and uncaring. Introverts in this situation need to put to work their inferior extroversion so people know what is happening.
Mr. Harper may well find that he needs to loosen up, be less buttoned down. If he doesn’t, in our age of instant communication he may find that people start to distrust him, his approach and policies. Such a change for him will take careful thought and, among other things, likely the hiring of an efficient extroverted communications director.