Interpersonal communication tips by Laura Benjamin, Colorado Springs communication and social media coach, strategic planning and public input facilitator, speaker and trainer

Gentle readers, in my last post we covered a whole slew of reasons why it’s important people step forward and speak up. In this post we’ll continue the theme and address exactly HOW you’re supposed to carry it off!

I find it interesting when those in leadership roles say, “We have an open door policy here. No one should ever hesitate to bring an issue to my attention. After all, I can take it!” While that may be true, it doesn’t mean that others feel confident enough – trust enough – to walk through that door.

Open door

A number of obstacles prevent them from bringing you their concerns. Maybe they fear for their job if they say the wrong thing (i.e. kill the messenger). Perhaps they’ve spoken up in the past and it wasn’t well received. They ended up going on “The List”. (You know which list I’m talking about, right?) Maybe there was subtle or overt retaliation. They probably even paid close attention the last time someone else took a stand and raised an issue – and watched as that person was left out of the loop, marginalized and even mocked.

I can tell you what it feels like, because those of us who attend Tea Parties, still to this day continue to be ridiculed…because we dared to speak up…because we cared enough to speak up. But all the ridicule in the world is worth it when you believe strongly in something based on deeply held principles.