What happens when sharing your truth might impact your connection with a colleague or organizational team member? How comfortable are you speaking up?
A good friend of mine began her accounting career with a small firm that touted employee loyalty. The firm’s reputation for being very generous sometimes appeared offset by a harshly demanding supervising accountant. Workers spent hours sharing “how-they-avoided-him-today” stories and commiserating over their frustrations, anger, and hurt.
I wonder if anyone ever approached him about his supervisory skills or what that conversation might have looked like. While he may have been a top producer, not addressing his communication style certainly impacted staff productivity and morale.
The price of avoiding important conversations extends beyond morale and productivity. According to a US Malpractice Study, not speaking up costs thousands of deaths and millions in malpractice claims in hospitals each year. For some reason, colleagues simply do not say anything when a patient shows signs of complications or a doctor appears to operate on the wrong body part.
The Monday morning quarterback asks, “how could you not say something?” Do you ever regret saying something? What about not doing so? Speaking up carries a price tag. Of course, not saying anything may lead to even graver consequences.
Whether a small organization or a large corporation, or somewhere in between, authentic communication, and the lack thereof, have profound implications. Learning to approach challenging conversations with clarity and compassion builds confidence.
When have you felt the urge to say something, and did not?
What is the price of silence?
Will you speak up?
