Women@Work Series: Speak Now or Forever Hold Your Peace
Weddings are by far one of my favorite social gatherings to attend. There are beautiful smiles everywhere, people are so elegantly dressed, the lucky couple seem nervous yet hopeful; and for the most part, I always leave feeling a little inspired.
You may find it odd to know that my favorite part of the wedding ceremony is the part when the congregation is cautioned: "If anyone knows a reason why this man and this woman should not be joined together, speak now or forever hold your peace." I often wonder what it would be like to attend a wedding where someone actually gets up and responds to that invitation. Seriously, what if YOU had come across something that could change the couple's decision to wed? Perhaps you find out that one of them is already married or has children they have yet to disclose. Would you get up to say something about it and potentially change the course of these two lives? Or would you forever hold your peace?
I admit the wedding scenario is pretty extreme and I can't imagine anyone wanting to find herself in that position. However, as working women, we face this scenario more often than we may realize. Have you ever looked back on a situation you encountered at the office and wished you had said something instead of remaining silent?
Araba is a branch manager at a well-known Ghanaian bank. She recently received a memo from the bank's management outlining new procedures and process updates. After reviewing one of the latest changes, she has a few concerns. After she discusses these concerns with colleague managers she seems to be the only one with issues.
So reluctantly, she and her team implement the new procedures. Almost immediately, serious issues arise. Service becomes interrupted and customers are severely inconvenienced. Management plunges into damage control mode and their brand suffers as angry clients express their dissatisfaction on social media platforms. She wonders to herself: "If only I had spoken up." When asked why she didn't bring her concerns to her bosses, Araba remarked "I didn't want my boss to think I was complaining about the changes, especially since I was the only one who thought these changes would bring problems."
Hardworking, intelligent professional women like Araba give their personal power away daily by trusting the judgment of others more than they trust their own. Like so many of us, Araba was waiting for permission and consensus before speaking because she didn't want to appear negative by challenging authority. Believe it or not, every employee-including you-has a unique perspective. By that, I mean you will see the company from your vantage point, and will notice things that even your boss does not see. Your perspective is valuable and that makes you a valuable resource to any organization you work for.
However, you have to know how to express your perspective without appearing to be negative. Anyone in Araba's situation has a real opportunity to set some communications ground rules with their superiors. For starters, Araba could ask for a meeting with her boss and begin by showing she wants to be as supportive as possible.
She could open her statements with: "I want to be someone you can count on to support the goals of this company and be solution-oriented." Then, she should invite her boss to provide her clarity on how to handle similar situations in the future. In the case above, she could have asked: "When we receive process changes and I have concerns about how those changes will impact our customers, what is the best way for me to communicate that?" With this approach Araba is not asking for permission but rather seeking agreement from her boss on how to confront future issues effectively.
The next time you find yourself tempted to swallow your concerns instead of voicing them, remember these three things:
Voicing concerns increases the value placed on your unique perspective in the organization
Trust your judgment, especially if you have years of experience beneath you
Learn to present your concerns and ideas effectively to your superiors
And on a lighter note, if you ever get the guts to voice your concerns at a wedding, be sure to let me know-I'd love to live the experience vicariously through you. Until next week, win at work!
Women empowerment
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Yawa_Hansen-Quao/2235161
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