How to speak truth to power ... without burning bridges (78)

Ugly baby syndrome

Sometimes, the ugly truth has to be spoken. And if you see it or know it, you need to take courage and speak up.

This scenario plays way too often in corporate settings. Breaking down the news of poor sales, raising safety issues, pointing out the flaws in management culture ... all of it can happen! And while the issue gets unaddressed, the more the company sinks. After all, this is all that leadership is about: taking initiative and doing things that are not entirely confined in your job description.

The trick is in the timing

As with most sensitive topics, timing is everything. When you speak up can be the difference between being seen as responsible or being labelled a troublemaker.

Here are two effective approaches:

Raise the issue as soon as you notice it.
Speaking up early shows transparency and avoids any impression that you’re quietly keeping score. Even if the ideal audience isn't present, starting the conversation gives you a strong reason to escalate later if needed.
Have a direct, face-to-face conversation.
Email is great for documentation, but it’s not ideal for tone. Schedule a private discussion where everyone can stay calm, understand the problem, and ask questions. Most misunderstandings come from tone and not content. A real conversation goes a long way.

The art of framing the message

Apart from timing, there are also some other tips and tricks to keep in mind:

Start with pointing the finger to yourself. It grounds your message and makes it easier to understand where it comes from and what is the intent.
Use appropriate humour. It lightens the mood and makes the statement less threatening. Now they will actually listen to what you are saying without the knee-jerk reaction
Include others. Use examples where things actually worked right and point out truths shared in the past by other colleagues. It is much easier to secure buy-in when the issue seems shared rather than isolated.

Come on, speak up

At the end of the day, what matters most is choosing to speak up at all. Technique helps, but it exists mainly to make you feel more confident doing the right thing. Staying silent may feel safer in the moment, but over time it leads to frustration and disengagement. Speaking up, on the other hand, empowers you, contributes to better outcomes, and builds a reputation for integrity.

Your perspective probably has more value than you think. And the organization benefits when you share it.

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