ABSTRACT
This chapter defines strategic silences in plural and there are many strategic silences. The strategic silences are: intentional, directed at audiences; mostly communicative; and discursive practices that take place in situations of communication, at higher degrees of indirectness, which usually entail a shift from speaking to actionable listening. Original intention, however, adapts, socialises and transforms when strategy meets practice. As communication strategies, silences become problem solving practices. Communicators mainly employ silence as communicative strategy. Strategic communication is discursive and non-discursive. Communicative silences are relevant in situations of communication. There are many strategic silences, because there are many degrees of indirectness. Strategic silence as indirect communication moves the emphasis of communication from the speaker to the listener. The more indirect a silence is, the more prominent that shift becomes. In that sense, silence elevates listening as an equal, if not more important part of the conversation. It assigns agency to heeding; it transforms it into actionable listening.
