Comments on: Deciding When to Speak Up and When to Shut Up http://idratherbewriting.com/2008/03/08/deciding-when-to-speak-up-and-when-to-shut-up/ The Latest Trends in Technical Communication Fri, 25 May 2012 13:27:53 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Scotty http://idratherbewriting.com/2008/03/08/deciding-when-to-speak-up-and-when-to-shut-up/comment-page-1/#comment-136747 Scotty Tue, 30 Dec 2008 03:53:28 +0000 http://www.idratherbewriting.com/2008/03/08/deciding-when-to-speak-up-and-when-to-shut-up/#comment-136747 My trouble is I speak up first. My latest endeavor is to refrain from being the first to reply to an email sent to not just to me but to a group of folks. Instead, I now wait and see what others say before providing my view. What I've noticed in doing this is that work life is easier. Did you know there are people out there who actually have good suggestions? Why did I always think I had to "hitting the buzzer first" to prove I had an intelligent answer. Well life isn't a Jeopardy game folks. Let others in first, sit back and listen first, repress your inner voice that screams "I know, I know.. pick me, pick me" and just give someone else the floor. You'll find that when you make the choice to speak it will be a commfortable and relaxing event. You can speak up, just diminish the amount of times your first to the buzzer. My trouble is I speak up first. My latest endeavor is to refrain from being the first to reply to an email sent to not just to me but to a group of folks. Instead, I now wait and see what others say before providing my view. What I’ve noticed in doing this is that work life is easier. Did you know there are people out there who actually have good suggestions? Why did I always think I had to “hitting the buzzer first” to prove I had an intelligent answer. Well life isn’t a Jeopardy game folks. Let others in first, sit back and listen first, repress your inner voice that screams “I know, I know.. pick me, pick me” and just give someone else the floor. You’ll find that when you make the choice to speak it will be a commfortable and relaxing event. You can speak up, just diminish the amount of times your first to the buzzer.

]]> By: Tom http://idratherbewriting.com/2008/03/08/deciding-when-to-speak-up-and-when-to-shut-up/comment-page-1/#comment-120220 Tom Fri, 14 Mar 2008 06:29:46 +0000 http://www.idratherbewriting.com/2008/03/08/deciding-when-to-speak-up-and-when-to-shut-up/#comment-120220 MSchafer -- Your comment was absolutely hilarious. Thanks for leaving it. You made me laugh. MSchafer — Your comment was absolutely hilarious. Thanks for leaving it. You made me laugh.

]]> By: Tom http://idratherbewriting.com/2008/03/08/deciding-when-to-speak-up-and-when-to-shut-up/comment-page-1/#comment-120219 Tom Fri, 14 Mar 2008 06:29:15 +0000 http://www.idratherbewriting.com/2008/03/08/deciding-when-to-speak-up-and-when-to-shut-up/#comment-120219 Well Aaron, I know you personally, and you don't have a shy bone in your body. So if you're going to err, since you're already vocal, I agree with erring on the side of being quiet. Well Aaron, I know you personally, and you don’t have a shy bone in your body. So if you’re going to err, since you’re already vocal, I agree with erring on the side of being quiet.

]]> By: Aaron http://idratherbewriting.com/2008/03/08/deciding-when-to-speak-up-and-when-to-shut-up/comment-page-1/#comment-118713 Aaron Tue, 11 Mar 2008 17:13:18 +0000 http://www.idratherbewriting.com/2008/03/08/deciding-when-to-speak-up-and-when-to-shut-up/#comment-118713 A great post and timely for me. I just started a new job and have followed the SHUT UP practice as much as possible. I believe that as a newbie the best thing I can do as a new member of the team is to listen and understand the environment. There will be time to SPEAK UP in the future. As Stephen Covey says, "Seek first to understand." A great post and timely for me. I just started a new job and have followed the SHUT UP practice as much as possible. I believe that as a newbie the best thing I can do as a new member of the team is to listen and understand the environment. There will be time to SPEAK UP in the future. As Stephen Covey says, “Seek first to understand.”

]]> By: MSchafer http://idratherbewriting.com/2008/03/08/deciding-when-to-speak-up-and-when-to-shut-up/comment-page-1/#comment-118655 MSchafer Tue, 11 Mar 2008 15:06:43 +0000 http://www.idratherbewriting.com/2008/03/08/deciding-when-to-speak-up-and-when-to-shut-up/#comment-118655 The project manager announces that the project deadline will be cut short by 3 weeks to meet the original timeline, causing you to work overtime each night. SHUT UP! Don't risk your job. Your co-worker talks on the phone really loudly all day next to your cube. SHUT UP! Don't risk your job. You want a second monitor at work, even though none of your colleagues has one. SPEAK UP! The worst that can happen is your manager says 'No'. Someone you made an appointment with is 30 minutes late, causing you to miss another appointment. SPEAK UP! Tell them to reschedule. You'll even make time later in the day if they travelled. Keep your commitments. Your wife makes whole wheat chocolate chip muffins that she thinks are heaven’s gift but which nauseate you. SHUT UP! SHUT UP! SHUT UP! Tell her you love her and take the muffins to work and leave them on the break table. One of your coworkers has a weird neck or nerve quirk and you’re curious about it. SHUT UP! You're weird, too. You’re really tired at work, having stayed up late the night before on the Internet, and you just want to go home. SHUT UP AND GO HOME! Your job performance is decreased anyway, so why stick it out 'til 5pm? There’s dog poop all over your apartment complex lawn and you know it’s a certain someone and his dog. While getting your mail, you see him walking his dog again. SHUT UP! You’re a boss and you’re disappointed with the performance of your secretary. Or vice versa — you’re a secretary and you’re disappointed with the performance of your boss. SPEAK UP! The process for gaining access to a company resource is bureaucratic and slow. SPEAK UP, your manager is there to help you get what you need for the job. Enjoy! The project manager announces that the project deadline will be cut short by 3 weeks to meet the original timeline, causing you to work overtime each night.
SHUT UP! Don’t risk your job.

Your co-worker talks on the phone really loudly all day next to your cube.
SHUT UP! Don’t risk your job.

You want a second monitor at work, even though none of your colleagues has one.
SPEAK UP! The worst that can happen is your manager says ‘No’.

Someone you made an appointment with is 30 minutes late, causing you to miss another appointment.
SPEAK UP! Tell them to reschedule. You’ll even make time later in the day if they travelled. Keep your commitments.

Your wife makes whole wheat chocolate chip muffins that she thinks are heaven’s gift but which nauseate you.
SHUT UP! SHUT UP! SHUT UP! Tell her you love her and take the muffins to work and leave them on the break table.

One of your coworkers has a weird neck or nerve quirk and you’re curious about it.
SHUT UP! You’re weird, too.

You’re really tired at work, having stayed up late the night before on the Internet, and you just want to go home.
SHUT UP AND GO HOME! Your job performance is decreased anyway, so why stick it out ’til 5pm?

There’s dog poop all over your apartment complex lawn and you know it’s a certain someone and his dog. While getting your mail, you see him walking his dog again.
SHUT UP!

You’re a boss and you’re disappointed with the performance of your secretary. Or vice versa — you’re a secretary and you’re disappointed with the performance of your boss.
SPEAK UP!

The process for gaining access to a company resource is bureaucratic and slow.
SPEAK UP, your manager is there to help you get what you need for the job.

Enjoy!

]]> By: My 5 Pet Peeves About Blogs (mostly surrounding comments and feeds) | I'd Rather Be Writing http://idratherbewriting.com/2008/03/08/deciding-when-to-speak-up-and-when-to-shut-up/comment-page-1/#comment-117725 My 5 Pet Peeves About Blogs (mostly surrounding comments and feeds) | I'd Rather Be Writing Mon, 10 Mar 2008 06:10:30 +0000 http://www.idratherbewriting.com/2008/03/08/deciding-when-to-speak-up-and-when-to-shut-up/#comment-117725 [...] Deciding When to Speak Up and When to Shut Up [...] [...] Deciding When to Speak Up and When to Shut Up [...]

]]> By: Tom http://idratherbewriting.com/2008/03/08/deciding-when-to-speak-up-and-when-to-shut-up/comment-page-1/#comment-117695 Tom Mon, 10 Mar 2008 05:01:53 +0000 http://www.idratherbewriting.com/2008/03/08/deciding-when-to-speak-up-and-when-to-shut-up/#comment-117695 Kevin, thanks for the book recommend. I'll have to check it out. I appreciate your comment. Kevin, thanks for the book recommend. I’ll have to check it out. I appreciate your comment.

]]> By: Tom http://idratherbewriting.com/2008/03/08/deciding-when-to-speak-up-and-when-to-shut-up/comment-page-1/#comment-117693 Tom Mon, 10 Mar 2008 05:01:10 +0000 http://www.idratherbewriting.com/2008/03/08/deciding-when-to-speak-up-and-when-to-shut-up/#comment-117693 Jane, you're right about knowing what type of individual you are. For people who are naturally type A personalities, who have to work on restraint, they might want to err on the side of keeping their mouth shut rather than opening it up. But for those who are shy, they should err on opening their mouth more often. Jane, you’re right about knowing what type of individual you are. For people who are naturally type A personalities, who have to work on restraint, they might want to err on the side of keeping their mouth shut rather than opening it up. But for those who are shy, they should err on opening their mouth more often.

]]> By: Jane | What About Mom? http://idratherbewriting.com/2008/03/08/deciding-when-to-speak-up-and-when-to-shut-up/comment-page-1/#comment-117690 Jane | What About Mom? Mon, 10 Mar 2008 04:57:20 +0000 http://www.idratherbewriting.com/2008/03/08/deciding-when-to-speak-up-and-when-to-shut-up/#comment-117690 I can empathize with your desire to speak up more (expect about your wife's muffins!), but I think people need to know themselves. I can think of a few times when I wish I'd spoken up, but many times when I wish I hadn't. So I have to side with Mark Twain (I know, going out on a limb there). Such a thin line between assertive and aggressive. And maybe aggressive is ok . . . certainly preferable to passive aggressive, which is often the plight of the scared-to-speak-up. I can empathize with your desire to speak up more (expect about your wife’s muffins!), but I think people need to know themselves. I can think of a few times when I wish I’d spoken up, but many times when I wish I hadn’t. So I have to side with Mark Twain (I know, going out on a limb there).

Such a thin line between assertive and aggressive. And maybe aggressive is ok . . . certainly preferable to passive aggressive, which is often the plight of the scared-to-speak-up.

]]> By: Kevin http://idratherbewriting.com/2008/03/08/deciding-when-to-speak-up-and-when-to-shut-up/comment-page-1/#comment-116930 Kevin Sat, 08 Mar 2008 20:59:57 +0000 http://www.idratherbewriting.com/2008/03/08/deciding-when-to-speak-up-and-when-to-shut-up/#comment-116930 Great article! One of the best books on this topic is "The Cowards Guide to Conflict" by Tim Ursiny. You can find it on Amazon or BN pretty easily. Good, practical solutions to the kinds of situations you've posed. Great article!

One of the best books on this topic is “The Cowards Guide to Conflict” by Tim Ursiny. You can find it on Amazon or BN pretty easily. Good, practical solutions to the kinds of situations you’ve posed.

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