Are you more aware than your work colleagues of unproductive and disorganised people, systems and poor work relations? Do you question the traditional ways of “seeing and doing” and take a stand against the mistreatment of others and yourself?

Colleagues may even label you as the “troublemaker”, “never satisfied” or more cautiously as just the “outspoken” one.

I am convinced that many of us, by our very “nature”, are compelled to speak out about people and issues. How you “speak out” will impact on your work relations, how your message is heard, and ultimately reflect on your own self-worth.

Speaking out

Work situations can be unsettling, especially when it results in challenging those who have the power to make change. Speaking out carelessly and haphazardly at work can increase the chances of you picking up the pieces afterwards; often they will only be your own.

Keeping the pieces together

Use the following strategies to get your point across in the least threatening manner. These are:

Do it in private. Never challenge in public. Arrange a suitable time and private meeting place.

Challenge the issue, not the person. Starting with “I feel” statements may help at first to get your point across and reduce initial defences.

Don’t yell or point your finger. These “attacking” behaviours will come back to haunt you.

Keep you voice calm and controlled and keep those hands by your side.

Know why. Have the evidence and stick to the facts. Be clear about your position; identifying and linking problems with company policies, values, or processes will strengthen your position.

Identify the outcome(s). Think about what you hope to achieve and who will benefit by your recommendations.

Shared views. It is likely that other people have similar views and share your feelings. Knowing that you are not alone “in spirit” can be empowering.

Encourage others. Multiple voices can reinforce the message. Try and get your colleagues to share their views in the same manner.

Develop tolerance. Sometimes, situations are not worth challenging because they simply represent bad judgement, misunderstandings or a lack of skill or knowledge. This is a judgement call you need to make about the seriousness of the incident.

Write it up. A tedious job but one that can be a much-needed future reference point when memories fail. Note down time, dates, place, and conversation details. Keep this record in a private personal location.

What are the risks? Balance out what you can gain and what you can potentially loose.

The messenger vs the message

These strategies can go a long way to assist and protect your viewpoint. Remember speaking out rashly makes it easier to attack and discredit the messenger rather than the message.

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