How to speak up and say what needs to be said Ask yourself the 5Ws Hult Blog

In the second of three blogs for Hult, Professor Megan Reitz offers insights and advice on speaking up effectively in the workplace. She draws from the findings of her research on Speaking Truth to Power, which has been featured by Harvard Business Review and the  BBC and is the subject of her new book, Speak Up: Say what needs to be said and hear what needs to be heard, (Financial Times Publishing). Think about one thing you could or should speak up about at work, but haven’t done yet. It doesn’t have to be a dramatic whistleblowing situation. It could be some feedback that you know would be useful for a colleague. Or a process or strategy you’d like to challenge. Or an idea youd like to offer about doing something differently. What affects your choice about whether you are likely to speak up or stay silent? The often mundane choices that you and your colleagues make about speaking up can end up having dramatic effects on careers, relationships, reputations, and in some cases, even lives. In extreme cases, malpractice can end up flourishing while innovation perishes. Learning to speak up effectively has become a personal and organizational imperative. The three traps Our research points to three common traps that we fall into that either keep us silent or mean we are ineffective. Which of these do you fall into? The imposter voice silences us. Imposter experience occurs when we doubt our capabilities, feel we don’t deserve our current levels of success and think we are imminently about to be found out! Although I have interviewed some people who I might argue need more imposter voice, most of us need to be able to recognize our doubts and fears, critique them, and dial them down. We abdicate. We think it’s not my job, or someone else is bound to say something. Sometimes, the more people know something, the less likely people are to speak about it precisely because we assume others will speak up. A senior NHS clinician told us how he decided it wasn’t up to him to give his colleague feedback about his behavior 30 years ago when they were junior doctors. He later found himself having to run a misconduct hearing about his colleague, who tearfully claimed that he did not realize his behavior was considered bullying. No-one, in 30 years, had ever told him. We get so focused on building up the courage to say something that we forget about the person we are speaking to. We say something at a moment that suits us and with verbal and non-verbal language that is in our comfort zone but not necessarily in theirs. For example, we interviewed a change manager who had passionately tried to sell his change plan to the Financial Director. Cross-armed and stern-looking, the FD allowed him to speak for ten minutes and then said were facing a huge deficit that I’ve got six months to clear – how does this help with that? The change manager had forgotten to see the world from the FDs point of view. Forgetting to empathize and adapt how we speak up is a common mistake in cross-cultural communication.    How to speak up more effectively Asking yourself the 5Ws that we detail in our book can help. Take a look at these questions in the light of the issue/idea that you currently have but haven’t spoken up about yet: Why?  examines the purpose behind you speaking up. What outcome are you seeking? What’s your positive intention? What would happen if you didn’t say anything? Who? identifies the right person/people to speak to and whether it is you that is best placed to speak up. Who, given their agenda, is willing to listen to you and support you? Should you speak up alone, or should someone else, or should you do it together as allies? Where? identifies the location that would be most conducive to speaking up and being heard. Is what you have to communicate best done via email, on a virtual platform, or face-to-face? In a formal meeting or at the coffee shop? Where works best for the other person? When? identifies when the other person can best hear you. Timing is what makes or kills a joke. The same applies for speaking up. Is the issue urgent? When will you be at your best speaking up? Do you need to cool off? When is the other person open to hearing? What? refers to the precise words and signals you should use to get your message across. It requires you to consider the cultural context. Given your understanding of the other person’s context, personality, and perspective, what signals should you send verbally and non-verbally? And what signals should you avoid? The choices you make today and for the rest of your life about whether to speak up or stay silent define you. They have a dramatic effect on those around you at work and at home. Making more conscious, skillful choices is imperative for you, for others, and the society we are co-constructing. Next week, in the final installment of this series, Professor Reitz will be offering insights and advice on effective listening. Part one, published last week, focuses on how approachable you are and whether people are telling you the truth. Professor Reitzs findings are based  on her research into the subject and resulting book,  Speak Up: Say what needs to be said and hear what needs to be heard, (Financial Times Publishing).   ________________________________________________________________________________ In a world of ever-increasing automation, interpersonal skills are more important than ever. Unlock your leadership potential with Hult:  See the brochure. Dr. Megan Reitz Megan is Professor of Leadership and Dialogue at Ashridge Executive Education, Hult International Business School, and Founder of Reitz Consulting. She is listed on the Thinkers50 radar of global management thinkers and HR Magazine's Most Influential Listing. She writes, speaks, and consults in the areas of leadership, dialogue, mindfulness, culture, change, coaching, and team effectiveness. She is author of "Mind Time," "Dialogue in Organizations," and 'Speak Up: Say what needs to be said and hear what needs to be heard'. 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We look for diverse students with a wide range of experiences, perspectives, and interests—students who will thrive in our unique educational atmosphere. Are you ready for a truly global experience? 📠¸: @iambrunadiniz . Each year, Hult seeks to enroll a talented and ambitious incoming class from all over the world. We look for diverse students with a wide range of experiences, perspectives, and interests—students who will thrive in our unique educational atmosphere. Are you ready for a truly global experience? 📠¸: @iambrunadiniz . We’re excited to start 2020 on a ranking high! Hult is proud to have been placed #28 in Poets Quants 2020 rankings for Best Undergraduate Business Schools in the US. Taking a huge leap of 32 places from our 2019 position, we’re also very happy to have secured top positions in key categories like: life-changing experience, practicality of the degree, and global immersion. . With five global campuses, a student body of over 130 nationalities, and a learn-by-doing approach—Hult offers a student experience like no other. . We’re excited to start 2020 on a ranking high! Hult is proud to have been placed #28 in Poets Quants 2020 rankings for Best Undergraduate Business Schools in the US. Taking a huge leap of 32 places from our 2019 position, we’re also very happy to have secured top positions in key categories like: life-changing experience, practicality of the degree, and global immersion. . With five global campuses, a student body of over 130 nationalities, and a learn-by-doing approach—Hult offers a student experience like no other. . â€Å"I’m from an engineering background and needed a whole new skill set for the industry I wanted to switch to. I learned a lot about myself and how I deal with being out of my comfort zone. I learned both soft and hard skills, from how to work in very diverse teams to key accounting metrics and strategy. I was surprised by how weak I was at certain tasks in English or how strong I actually was in other areas. Hult gave me opportunities to try new things and meet people from places I never thought I would have friends. . My internship experiences gave me the chance to broaden my view of different cultures and different companies. I had the opportunity to work and live with people whose values differed from people in my home country. I thought that this would be difficult, but it gave me the chance to reflect on my own values and assess if they were a result of my home country environment or if they were intrinsically mine. . Diederick ter Kulve (@diederick.terkulve) Netherlands Masters in International Business . â€Å"I’m from an engineering background and needed a whole new skill set for the industry I wanted to switch to. I learned a lot about myself and how I deal with being out of my comfort zone. I learned both soft and hard skills, from how to work in very diverse teams to key accounting metrics and strategy. I was surprised by how weak I was at certain tasks in English or how strong I actually was in other areas. Hult gave me opportunities to try new things and meet people from places I never thought I would have friends. . My internship experiences gave me the chance to broaden my view of different cultures and different companies. I had the opportunity to work and live with people whose values differed from people in my home country. I thought that this would be difficult, but it gave me the chance to reflect on my own values and assess if they were a result of my home country environment or if they were intrinsically mine. . Diederick ter Kulve (@diederick.terkulve) Netherlands Masters in International Business . Say a big hello to our Bachelor of Business Administration program cover star, Elisa Orus Plana âÅ" ¨ . â€Å"I’m excited for the future—especially that I cant predict whats going to happen. Maybe Ill end up in Mexico working for a trading company or maybe in Africa, developing my own business. Everything is possible, and the options are constantly changing. I love the idea that Im never going to be stuck doing the same job until the end of my life if I dont want it to be like this. . Hult really supports me and my ambitions and truly believes that we deserve to be considered as professionals as well as students. Here, I get to express not just my opinions but all elements of myself. From my creative side with the Fashion Society to my finance and business sides in Trading Club and the Management Consulting Club. We get a different type of learning here. Not just essential knowledge and theory, but practical skills and mindset. The school is always evolving. We’re encouraged to innovate and to always look for new ways of doing traditional things. We learn how to be more confident and become aware of how we can impact our environment. The school aims to help you become a better version of yourself and to stand out from the crowd.â€Å" . Elisa Orus Plana French Bachelor of Business Administration Class of 2021 Say a big hello to our Bachelor of Business Administration program cover star, Elisa Orus Plana âÅ" ¨ . â€Å"I’m excited for the future—especially that I cant predict whats going to happen. Maybe Ill end up in Mexico working for a trading company or maybe in Africa, developing my own business. Everything is possible, and the options are constantly changing. I love the idea that Im never going to be stuck doing the same job until the end of my life if I dont want it to be like this. . Hult really supports me and my ambitions and truly believes that we deserve to be considered as professionals as well as students. Here, I get to express not just my opinions but all elements of myself. From my creative side with the Fashion Society to my finance and business sides in Trading Club and the Management Consulting Club. We get a different type of learning here. Not just essential knowledge and theory, but practical skills and mindset. The school is always evolving. We’re encouraged to innovate and to always look for new ways of doing traditional things. We learn how to be more confident and become aware of how we can impact our environment. The school aims to help you become a better version of yourself and to stand out from the crowd.â€Å" . Elisa Orus Plana French Bachelor of Business Administration Class of 2021"> During the final days of 2019, you probably reflected on what you’ve accomplished this year—and even this decade—and what you’d like to achieve in 2020. Let us know in the comments below. During the final days of 2019, you probably reflected on what you’ve accomplished this year—and even this decade—and what you’d like to achieve in 2020. Let us know in the comments below. â€Å"The first time we did group work on the program, I went head-to-head with a colleague. It taught me a lot about how I see people, how people see me, and how conflict can be resolved in a kind and productive way. The best feedback you get, when delivered constructively, is the most critical because it really feeds into how you lead. I’ve completely reversed my leadership style—the result is so much richer and more powerful when you lead from behind and lead with strength. . Studying in tandem with working, whilst challenging, gave me the perfect platform to directly apply learning concepts into my business environment, the competitive landscape, and the real-estate industry as a whole. When I started the program, I was very happy in my corporate role. But my courage and aspirations grew to the point that I took on a whole new direction. Having my career coach, Joanna, as a sounding board allowed me to really be strategic and get to know myself. She coached me thro ugh all the interviews, the research, and the questions. It went in parallel with what I was doing academically and after six months everything just clicked. . I went into the EMBA knowing I had nothing to lose and I’ve come out with everything. Great strength, global friends, amazing learning, mentors from professors, a job I love, and the knowledge that I can set my mind to achieve anything and with the right support and resources I’ll get there.† . Kashani Wijetunga British, New Zealand Sri Lankan Associate Director Senior Strategy Consultant CBRE EMBA Class of 2019 . â€Å"The first time we did group work on the program, I went head-to-head with a colleague. It taught me a lot about how I see people, how people see me, and how conflict can be resolved in a kind and productive way. The best feedback you get, when delivered constructively, is the most critical because it really feeds into how you lead. I’ve completely reversed my leadership style—the result is so much richer and more powerful when you lead from behind and lead with strength. . Studying in tandem with working, whilst challenging, gave me the perfect platform to directly apply learning concepts into my business environment, the competitive landscape, and the real-estate industry as a whole. When I started the program, I was very happy in my corporate role. But my courage and aspirations grew to the point that I took on a whole new direction. Having my career coach, Joanna, as a sounding board allowed me to really be strategic and get to know myself. She coached me thro ugh all the interviews, the research, and the questions. It went in parallel with what I was doing academically and after six months everything just clicked. . I went into the EMBA knowing I had nothing to lose and I’ve come out with everything. Great strength, global friends, amazing learning, mentors from professors, a job I love, and the knowledge that I can set my mind to achieve anything and with the right support and resources I’ll get there.† . Kashani Wijetunga British, New Zealand Sri Lankan Associate Director Senior Strategy Consultant CBRE EMBA Class of 2019 . â€Å"It was now or never. I knew that I’d have likely stayed in my neighborhood for years to come if I didn’t take this opportunity. I’d not lived or studied outside of the U.S. before. So I left my job as a global strategist at an advertising agency and moved halfway around the world. I’ve come back a more culturally aware, well-versed person. I’ve realized that everything is a learning experience and an opportunity for growth. Ill definitely carry this mindset with me into the future. Technology and social media allow us to be different people in several places at once. Im excited to see how I can establish myself in whatever city Ill be lucky enough to call home and still maintain deep connections with people all over the world. I’m inspired by my classmates every day. Hearing some of their life stories and how getting this degree fits into their greater mission has been very humbling. My biggest challenge has been finding the ‘right’ path for me. There have been rooms Ive felt like I shouldnt be in, but now Im proud to feel as though I truly belong, wherever I am.† . Dwayne Logan, Jnr. American MBA Class of 2019 . â€Å"It was now or never. I knew that I’d have likely stayed in my neighborhood for years to come if I didn’t take this opportunity. I’d not lived or studied outside of the U.S. before. So I left my job as a global strategist at an advertising agency and moved halfway around the world. I’ve come back a more culturally aware, well-versed person. I’ve realized that everything is a learning experience and an opportunity for growth. Ill definitely carry this mindset with me into the future. Technology and social media allow us to be different people in several places at once. Im excited to see how I can establish myself in whatever city Ill be lucky enough to call home and still maintain deep connections with people all over the world. I’m inspired by my classmates every day. Hearing some of their life stories and how getting this degree fits into their greater mission has been very humbling. My biggest challenge has been finding the ‘right’ path for me. There have been rooms Ive felt like I shouldnt be in, but now Im proud to feel as though I truly belong, wherever I am.† . Dwayne Logan, Jnr. American MBA Class of 2019 . Happy New Year, Hultians! . Happy New Year, Hultians! .