The same silence can be called confidence in one person and insecurity in another.

The same behaviour gets read through whoever is doing it. One person’s silence in a meeting is composure and another’s is uncertainty, and the difference is generally in the observer’s expectations rather than in the silence. This is how existing assumptions maintain themselves without anyone doing anything.

When you find yourself interpreting someone’s manner, check what you would conclude if a different person did exactly that. If the answer differs, the reading came from you. It is a quick test and it catches a surprising amount.