Yesterday I had a team meeting - now me being the only girl amongst men at work, I HAVE to be outspoken, so much so, that rather than being rude I have to really direct myself and my opinions and speak up for myself, otherwise I will be brushed over and have no voice at all.

I upset a co-worker yesterday in this meeting when I disagreed on what he was saying, so much so that I got the feeling he expected an apology from me.

I didnt apologise as I felt if I did (yes it would ease the atmosphere) but I would be back tracking on my own opinions (if that makes sense) and he didnt warrant an apology because I was right anyway.

Do you find you have to be outspoken at work, or possibly you do get into little arguments, disagreements or would you rather keep quiet and your head down to avoid confrontation?

There's a time to be quiet. There's a time to make yourself heard. And when you do make yourself heard, there's a way to do it that elicits a desired effect. The trick is choosing your battles wisely, truly knowing your intentions and controlling your tongue accordingly.

And, yep, I've navigated through this at work and everywhere else.
[Edited 7/7/09 9:04am]

I'm our union vice president, so I have to be outspoken. But I was already outspoken that's why I was elected V.P. and to our negotiating committee. Somebody has to do it. Feelings get hurt, that's a fact. As long as it's the truth and what's right, there is nothing you can do to stop that.

I have a bit of a reputation for being outspoken at work. Often to my advantage, occasionally to my disadvantage.

I have to really be mindful of those disadvantageous times.

I'm outspoken, but people are used to it. Both my students and my fellow teachers know I have the students' best interests at heart.

Yes I am but sometimes I have to remind myself to tone it down a bit.

i only speak out about work-related things. if i feel something is making it hard to do my job that shouldn't be happening, then i'll speak out about it. i keep my personal beliefs to myself as much as i can...i don't believe the workplace is a forum for spouting political or religious beliefs, though i'm certainly in the minority with that attitude where i work. i don't mind, though. people can rant all they want as long as they don't try to involve me.

Anxiety said:

oh. yikes. I'm only outspoken about work-related stuff too. I generally tell people to shut up if they try to get on a soapbox about anything else at work.

depends. i have a tendency to revert to smart-ass mode when i speak up about the bullshit that comes with the job/corporate environment, so i try to keep it to myself unless i thinking speaking up about it is going to actually make a difference.

as you can imagine, it usually doesn't. rules, regulations, protocols, etc., are usually made up by people pretty high up that have either never actually DONE the work, or it's been so long since they have, they don't remember what a pain in the ass all of these proclamations from on high are and how counter-productive they are.

so i usually just keep my mouth shut and ignore it until they reverse themsmelves 6 months later.

I'm outspoken and honest when asked...but I'm not one to be a shit disturber on my own.

JustErin said:

Only time I get pissed and curse mfers out is when some fool tries telling me how to do my job. That's like waving a red flag in a bull's face. Other than that, I keep to myself.

At my previous job I was very outspoken about the rampant inefficiency and mismanagement, and my supervisors hated me for it. They made my life hell. At my current job I am practicing keeping my mouth shut.

This thread came at an ironic time since I wrote a blog of rants about my job and I was gonna make a thread about annoying things that happen on people's jobs.Well, I work in retail and I have been at my job for nearly 3 years. I got into it once with a co-worker over something really dumb around the time I got hired.I am really quiet and pretty much speak to whoever speaks to me most of the time and I have a few people there I'm cool with.

But lately there's so much shit there that is bothering me, but I keep my mouth closed about it (so I can keep my job) and some stuff I don't lol. Like one thing that's really bothering me is our breakroom. I understand that being on your feet 6 or more hours a day will make your feet hurt, but I hate seeing other coworkers in the breakroom taking their shoes off and rubbing their funky, crusty feet while I'm trying to eat my food. I wish they would do that in the bathroom. The employees never clean up after themselves and leave half eaten food and napkins all over the breakroom. I could speak out about that, but who would listen and care? Then there's the lazy co-workers that try to make me do all the work. I used to be the type to just grin and bear it, but since I'm hoping to get another job soon they have learned that I'm not gonna do everything since it's supposed to be a teamwork.
[Edited 7/7/09 14:02pm]

I work alone

thekidsgirl said:

let's trade

I can't wear another face for work and it's always been to my professional detriment. I shout when I'm hurt.

My boss thinks that I'm a nut-case - I'm sure of it.

errant said:

you don't even know what I do What if I'm a stuntman or something?

...I've ripped phones out of sockets... Stood on top of desks until I've gotten attention... Slammed doors behind me... Walked out of meetings... Changed working conditions through unofficial petitions... Joined three different unions at the same time and then left each union after finding each as powerless than the other... Called a Managing Director a "mother fucker" to her face... Used personal information to disarm workplace bullies... Overturned restrictive clothing regulations...

I've just about stopped short of writing "Slave" on my face.

thekidsgirl said:

lately, i don't even care

No, I'm in retail and I always bite my tongue. Can't offend any customers.

When necessary yes.

In fact I had to haul my CFO over the coals in a board meeting last month, totally required, a bit stingy for him but necessary for the good of the partners.I am pretty sure that means he will try and do the same to me in the next one so I will make sure that sales are doing well and reporting good figures.

REDFEATHERS said:

Well there's a time and a place for everything. While in your sitation, depending on the topic, if you felt the need to speak up, as you did, then so be it. Me in general, I speak up when I feel that things aren't going as fairly as they should be. Do I feel that this is a risk? Yes. Because people are so nasty in places of employment nowdays, that if you speak up, you are "causing the disturbance of the peace", but if you are passive, then they feel they can walk all over you. Catch 22, I know. Then again, I don't give a damn how people see me, and they going to talk about you whether you stand down and be a good little passive employee, or an outspoken "i'm not taking this mess" type employee. It depends on the sitation.

thekidsgirl said:

jealous!

Anxiety said:

me too!

jone70 said:

So glad I'm keeping my mouth shut. I went to a business lunch with a co-worker today and returned to the office to find out the Exec. Dir. wanted to have a staff meeting. I noticed that one person was not in the office, but didn't ask where they were. First item of business at the meeting: the missing co-worker is "no longer with the company."

jone70 said:

see thats what i'm talking about. You have to be careful when you speak up and out of line, and whether or not its worth it.

I used to waste a lot of time at work meetings, especially when we were brainstorming

missfee said:

As a designer and woreking along side alot of *older* men who are *stuck in their ways* - I have to really convince them of new ideas and of other ways to move the product forward.

Stuck in their ways, what is safe is safe, but sometimes you have to take calculated risks, otherwise there is no room for improvement.