The Silent Risk: Are You Afraid to Speak Up? - And How It’s Holding You Back

Unlock the secrets to creating a safe work environment that encourages honesty, prevents costly mistakes, and drives real success.

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Creating an Environment Where People Can Speak Up

I’ve been thinking a lot lately about the conditions you need to ensure you get an honest answer at work.

It might sound simple—just ask, right?

But the reality is, if you want people to be straight with you, you need to build an environment where they feel safe enough to do so.

Safety at work isn’t just about physical harm or protection from abusive customers (though those are vital too). It’s also about creating a space where people feel secure enough to speak up. It’s about ensuring that everyone—from the newest hire to the seasoned veteran—feels that their voice matters and that they can share their thoughts without fear of backlash.

Are your team building a product that’s as much use as a chocolate tea pot?

Let’s be honest: in many workplaces, people don’t feel that way. When employees feel like they can’t speak their mind, they start to fall in line with what the boss says, or worse, they just go along with the crowd.

And that’s where the problems begin.

It creates an environment where a select few hold all the power, leading to massive blind spots that can send a company spiralling into mediocrity—or worse.

Imagine, for a second, a scenario where someone didn’t speak up about the practicality of chocolate teapots. You might laugh, but it’s decisions like these that can unravel businesses.

Take Coca-Cola, for example. Back in 1985, they made the bold decision to change their classic formula and introduce "New Coke." On paper, it seemed like a good idea—a way to rejuvenate the brand and take on Pepsi.

But the reality?