If I find there’s a conflict between my assigned task and my personal values, I’d be thinking that if I speak up, I risk being seen as difficult, losing face time, or even the offer I want. If I go along, I’m risking something bigger, such as my integrity, my school’s reputation, and a story about myself that I won’t be proud to tell later.
According to the 3-step plan mentioned in the reading, first, I would remind myself that speaking up is psychologically hard and that the stress I feel is a sign that it matters. Naming the fear, such as I could upset my manager, and the value, such as I want to protect our credibility, made the choice clearer. Second, I would try to reduce the social threat. Instead of accusing, I aligned that “I’m excited to help us learn about the market. I’m worried pretending to be a student could backfire on us,” when my manager asked me to “just say you’re a student” to get competitor information. Then I would offer alternatives, such as transparent outreach, analyst reports, alumni conversations, public benchmarks, or a vetted research vendor, so my boss still had options and control.
My last step would be sending a brief message that outlines what we’re trying to achieve, the potential problems I see, and the alternative approaches I’m suggesting. Then I’d ask for their sign-off in writing. If my manager still insisted on the original approach, I’d bring the internship coordinator or HR into the conversation with a straightforward explanation that sticks to the facts. It’s uncomfortable to potentially create tension, but protecting the values matters more in the long run.
