Your team looks aligned. But what if they’re just exhausted?

What if that confident silence you’re seeing isn’t a sign of trust…

but a symptom of survival?

I’ve coached inside many high-stakes leadership teams where everyone appears on the same page.

They’re not.

They’re just smart enough to know when challenge comes with a cost.

Here are 7 subtle signals you’re no longer leading a team - 

you’re managing an echo chamber 📡:

1️⃣ Decisions land fast - too fast.

There’s no real debate. Everyone “agrees” in record time.

You think it’s efficiency. It’s avoidance.

2️⃣ People speak freely in 1:1s - but stay quiet in the room.

You’re hearing the truth privately - but not where it counts.

That’s not psychological safety. That’s filtering.

3️⃣ You haven’t been directly challenged in weeks.

No pushback. No pause. Just polished alignment.

That’s not trust - it’s strategic silence.

4️⃣ Your highest performers are disengaging.

They’re still delivering… but they’re done investing.

Their silence isn’t laziness. It’s loss of faith.

5️⃣ Meetings are calm - but post-meeting chaos is high.

Everyone “aligns” in the room - but 48 hours later, frustration leaks everywhere.

6️⃣ People wait for your opinion before speaking

They’re not collaborating. They’re watching your face.

Reading the room before they risk a position.

7️⃣ Everyone is performing alignment.

And deep down, you know it.

You just don’t know how to stop it.

If even 2 or 3 of these feel familiar…

Your team isn’t speaking freely

They’re just managing risk. 🧨

🧭 Real alignment includes tension.

🛡️ Real safety includes disagreement.

⚙️ Real leadership welcomes both.

Ask yourself:

When was the last time someone told you something you didn’t want to hear - and you made them feel safer, not smaller?

Because if you can’t remember…

You’re not hearing the truth.

You’re hearing what it’s safe to say.

 /Ulrika