Have you ever felt a strange atmosphere at work? An atmosphere that is difficult to define, but that you strongly feel? It may be because someone has expressed something inappropriate or behaved in a way that doesn’t feel right. But what do you do then? Should you speak up or just let it be?
I recently joined an interesting session on design leadership by Kim Goodwin, where she talked about how leaders can address performance issues within a group. But what really stuck with me was her point that as individuals, we also need to ask ourselves: is it really a problem, or am I being influenced by group pressure?
It’s easy to fall into groupthink and think that what’s happening is normal or not a big deal. But by taking a step back and reflecting on the situation, we can get a clearer picture of what’s actually going on.
“When you said ‘x’, I interpreted it as ‘x’ – was that your intention?”
As Kim Goodwin suggests, it can be helpful to use a simple framework to address the situation, where we ask ourselves what the problem is, whether the person who performed the behavior sees it as a problem, whether the problem is due to a lack of skills or resources, and if there’s anything else to add.
I know that I need to work on being brave enough to speak up and stand up for my opinions, even if it feels uncomfortable. But I believe that by being courageous and willing to bring up the issues, we can create a healthier and more productive work environment for everyone.
What do you think?
Read more about Kim Goodwin
https://lnkd.in/g97YkDjw
Reading tips about self-awareness
https://lnkd.in/g9KPebKz
Written by: Julia Mattelin
