Consider these, separately:

• A fork tapping a wine glass

• The words, “Let us pray.”

• The phrase, “May I have your attention please?”

• A request for volunteers

The first three situations prompt brief silence, and then someone speaks.

It’s that fourth one that presents the most awkward and prolonged silence.

You’re at a meeting. Heads will nod. All will agree: Yes. This is something we need to do. It’s important.

“And who will volunteer to do it?”

<silence>

Many times, we don’t need more head-nodding.

Many times, we need more people to raise a hand and to step forward.