A senior leader stands in front of the team and says, “Let’s be honest. What’s not working?” The room goes quiet. People nod. Someone smiles politely. A few glances at each other, then back at the table. No one speaks. The leader leaves the meeting thinking, “We’re aligned. ”The team leaves thinking, “That was not a safe question.” This moment plays out every day in intercultural environments. It looks small, almost invisible. But it reveals something important.