You see something ethically questionable. Notice someone not being included. Run up against offensive speech. Disagree with an opinion that’s all too quickly become consensus. Want to add a different idea to the decision-making process.
While we’d all like to think that if we saw something, we’d say something in these situations, we are strikingly bad at anticipating how we’ll feel in future circumstances and, for a whole host of cognitive reasons, it can be incredibly difficult to speak up in the moment. In fact, research suggests that most people tend to not act, and then rationalize their inaction.
But you’re not really doing your job — as a diligent employee, compassionate colleague, or thoughtful leader — if you don’t lend your voice to the conversation. So what can you do?
Michael Sauers is the Director of Logan Library in Logan, UT. Prior to this he was one of the founding staff and Technology Manager for Do Space in Omaha, NE. After earning his MLS in 1995 from the University at Albany's School of Information Science and Policy Michael spent his first 20 years as a librarian training other librarians in technology along with time as a public library trustee, a bookstore manager for a library friends group, a reference librarian, a technology consultant, and a bookseller. He has written dozens of articles for various journals and magazines and has published 14 books ranging from library technology, blogging, Web design, and an index to a popular horror magazine. In his spare time, he blogs at TravelinLibrarian.info, runs The Collector's Guide to Dean Koontz website at CollectingKoontz.com, takes many, many photos, and typically reads more than 100 books a year.
Unless otherwise stated, all opinions are my own and are not to be considered those of the City of Logan, UT.
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One Reply to “How to Speak Up When It Matters”
One idea I have heard is to at least write it down afterward.
I saw “this” and it was wrong and I felt “something” and I could have “said this or done that”. So that next time you have a possible action. So you are at least more likely to do something positive next time.
Because it really is a multistep process: you have to recognize that something racist/sexist/bad has happened, assess the situation, and then think of something to say. Sometimes the thing can be “excuse me, I’m not sure I heard what you said”
One idea I have heard is to at least write it down afterward.
I saw “this” and it was wrong and I felt “something” and I could have “said this or done that”. So that next time you have a possible action. So you are at least more likely to do something positive next time.
Because it really is a multistep process: you have to recognize that something racist/sexist/bad has happened, assess the situation, and then think of something to say. Sometimes the thing can be “excuse me, I’m not sure I heard what you said”