In Follow Dubious Orders or Speak Up, Susan faces a difficult ethical crossroads: whether to misrepresent herself for the sake of her internship or uphold her integrity at the potential cost of her career. Speaking up in such situations always carries risk. When addressing a superior, employees, especially interns, risk damaging their reputation, losing future opportunities, or being labeled as “difficult.” Yet, accepting ethically questionable tasks poses deeper risks: long-term harm to credibility, self-respect, and alignment with one’s values.
Applying the Three-Step Plan
The How to Speak Up When It Matters framework offers a roadmap for Susan and for anyone navigating a similar dilemma:
- Recognize the challenge. Speaking up isn’t easy because it introduces social and psychological threats. Acknowledging this prepares her mentally for the discomfort and helps her act deliberately rather than react emotionally.
- Lessen the social threat. Instead of directly accusing Mr. Moon of unethical behavior, Susan can reframe her concern around improving the research process: “I’ve been thinking of alternative ways to collect information that align with both company values and industry standards.” This reduces confrontation and keeps the focus on solutions.
- Make a plan. Susan could propose alternate strategies, such as interviewing existing clients, consulting analysts, or leveraging internal knowledge. This approach not only preserves her integrity but demonstrates initiative and problem-solving skills, reinforcing her professional credibility.
The Long-Term View
Ethical clarity builds career capital. Interns often see power asymmetry as limiting their voice, but in reality, integrity compounds over time. Speaking up, strategically and respectfully, protects both personal reputation and organizational trust. As Susan’s case shows, the cost of silence can be far greater than the temporary risk of discomfort.
