Reflect on the following questions, and write a <300 word blog post. Submit the link on Canvas.
- What are you risking when you speak up to your boss, or accept an ethically dubious task? (Feel free to respond from the perspective of the intern in the case study, or yourself.)
- We have strongly suggested you read “How to Speak Up When It Matters” several times now (https://hbr.org/2019/03/how-to-speak-up-when-it-matters?utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=hbr&utm_source=twitter&tpcc=orgsocial_edit), and its 3-step plan is very applicable for this case study. How might the intern (or yourself) follow this plan to achieve their desired effect?
- 1) First, realize how psychologically difficult — and worthwhile — speaking up can be.
- 2) Second, work to lessen the social threat that speaking up creates.
- 3) Make a plan.
When speaking up to your boss or accepting an ethically dubious task, you risk painting yourself in a bad light, which can lead to several undesirable consequences. Considering this from the perspective of the intern, Susan Kim is risking not getting a return offer from the company and having possible tension when working with the team and her boss each day. Speaking up to one’s boss is often portrayed as something taboo because it appears as if one is trying to override their superior and so Susan is also risking Mr. Moon being unsatisfied with Susan, which could pose a difficulty when Susan needs references for future job opportunities. From my perspective, I would worry that accepting an ethically dubious task would result in me having to weigh out whether completing this ethically dubious task is worth the consequences of carrying out the task; it’s also important to consider how this task would create a ripple effect on the company and society as a whole. I think that it’s also important to build a strong relationship with your boss so that when sharing feedback such as voicing your opinions, it does not come off as cold.
Regarding how the intern (or myself) could follow the 3-step plan from the “How to Speak Up When It Matters” case study, I think that Susan should recognize that when something does not align with her values or ethics, it’s good that she speaks up and proposes healthier alternatives. Secondly, regarding the “work to lessen the social threat that speaking up creates”, rather than pointing fingers, it’s good to talk one-on-one with other interns to get their authentic perspectives on the situation at hand. This way, colleagues don’t feel targeted and they’re able to be completely honest in a one-on-one setting. Additionally, rather than confronting the boss in front of everyone, it may be a good idea to talk separately with them and schedule a time to meet. Regarding the third step of carrying out the plan, it’s good to schedule the one-on-one meeting and plan in advance a few notes about what you hope to get out of the meeting, and perhaps even practice with a trusted friend.
