The dog that doesn't bark

Barking dogs can be annoying, right? But it's their way of communicating. And sometimes, they are trying to bring our attention to things going wrong -Timmy's stuck down the well - or an amazing opportunity - there is a ball nearby.

I was listening to an interview with Amy Edmondson, who spoke about the dog that doesn't bark. She was talking about the person who, for many reasons, doesn't feel they can speak up. There is something that is unsettling them, an opportunity that is being overlooked, or a calculation that looks iffy. But, they think if they say something they will look foolish, be stepping on someone's toes, or not be seen as like-able. Maybe they are not a hundred percent certain. And, let's face it, it can be a career limiting move in some workplaces. But had they voiced a concern, they could have saved the day or realised an enormous opportunity.

Do your leaders encourage dissenting voices? It will likely be uncomfortable.

And having a CEO ask, "So does anyone disagree with my proposal?" probably won't work. Firstly because that makes you disagree with a person - in this case, the CEO. It should be about an idea. One that will benefit the business. So watch your pronouns.

What if it was an expectation? It was just a routine part of the process and this behaviour was rewarded? Putting the mission ahead of the ego and short-term or lazy thinking needs dissenting voices. So let hear those woofs.