I was on a ride with my colleague a few days ago. He was driving.
While we were chatting and enjoying the ride, I remembered there was a bad portion of the road up ahead. At the speed he was going, it was clear we would hit it hard.
I recalled that I had agreed not to comment on his driving, but I also knew that staying silent could lead to an unpleasant outcome. So I blurted out, “Please switch lanes. Our current lane has a bad pothole ahead.”
He did, without hesitation, and we kept our conversation going. When we passed the pothole, he was so grateful I had spoken up. Apparently, it was a route he wasn’t familiar with.
Speaking up is a sign of care, and leaders who understand this make it a priority within their teams. It’s better to risk a moment of tension than to face the consequences of silent inaction.
— Osasu Oviawe