Speak Up For Yourself
Years ago, I was a management consultant for one of the major consultancy firms. Along with several hundred other consultants from all over the world, I attended an intense multi-week training which required that I travel to another state and stay at the company-owned training facility. During the training we all participated in a mix of group and individual projects aimed at topics from teaming to analytics. One day, it was announced that we would have a group project and we were quickly shepherded into predetermined teams with our colleagues which were largely strangers. Our assignment: develop a fully researched idea to raise money for the Ngorongoro park in Tanzania.
Each team had a corner of a very large room to brainstorm and strategize next steps. As we were talking, I came up with the idea of using sponsored bricks that tourists could purchase. The bricks would have whatever name or message they pleased and would be part of a pathway or structure in the park. The idea came to me from the Atlanta Olympics “Adopt a Brick” program, where a similar strategy was used to great success. I pitched the idea and in the absence of a better idea, we moved forward. The next day all teams were asked to pitch their idea to a panel of executives. Our team presented the idea and the panelists loved it. They loved it so much that, they asked how we came up with the idea,One of the team members quickly chimed in and said, “I don’t remember who came up with it.”
Now, at that moment, a range of thoughts were floating around in my head. Did he really not remember? Was he annoyed that my idea actually received praise? After all, it was only 24 hours ago that we came together as a team. At that moment, I did something uncharacteristic of myself at that time in my life. I raised my hand and said. “I did it. I came up with the idea.” There was no opposition from the team because they knew the truth of how we ended up winning that round of the competition.
I remember this experience from time to time because it really highlights the need to speak up for yourself. Regardless of why no one on the team wanted to attribute the idea to me, I decided at that moment that my silence would be a dishonor to myself and it would convey the very negative message that such behavior was acceptable to me and maybe others that looked like me.
It’s important to always speak up for yourself and never assume you can outsource that duty to the people around you. You and only you are responsible for ensuring that your contributions are heard.
Aji