When Our Best And Brightest Stop Speaking Up...
Every organization has that person. The one who raises issues, flags problems, talks about solutions and fixes to move the ball forward.
I’m not talking about the complainers - folks who have nothing better to do, and don’t have any real intent to solve the problem. I’m talking about those who want to get things done and are vocal about it. Very vocal, in fact. Sometimes, they’re in your face. Many times, they’re irritating. Many times, it feels like they’re too much.
And they may be, but what I love about folks like that, is that they care. Their heart and their intent is in the right place. They’ve bought into the mission and they care enough about it that they want to work towards getting us all there.
These are folks to be valued. I know it doesn’t always feel like it, because they can feel like irritants. But we want that. We need to value that.
Because the passion is there. It creates movement. It builds momentum.
They are not the problem.
No, the problem we have to look out for is when those folks go quiet. When they simply go along with everything we’re saying. When they’re simply executing, without discussion, debate or questioning.
Because then, we’ve lost them. Mentally for the moment, and physically in the long term.
When our best folks no longer feel as if what they do will drive change, when they have stopped caring, they go quiet. Then, we’re in trouble.
So instead of pushing away the vocal ones, perhaps we need to learn to embrace them, and cultivate them.
Because the opposite is far, far worse.
The biggest concern for any organization should be when their most passionate people become quiet
