I've just heard from a good friend, who is very concerned about a colleague in the pharmaceutical industry. Colleague is plagued with self-doubts, afraid to speak up for herself, for fear of being fired. My heart goes out to her.
Finding yourself unable to speak freely in business is the worst. Why bother, if you can't be the person you were hired to be in the first place? Yet many people suffer with feeling inadequate or un-entitled to their freedom of speech. Ironically, they're often the smartest and most industrious in the room. What's going on?
The answer is pretty simple: they don't know how to communicate effectively. Most likely, they were never taught in the first place. The small percentage who do get coached usually get it in too small a dose and long ago. That won't be of any use now.
If a smart person isn't able to share their ideas, it's a lose/lose game. I'd like to see more companies nurturing their employees by giving them decent & effective coaching & support for anyone who's required to speak or write for that company. You have to equip your team!
