Have you mastered the fine art of speaking up at work?

Quiz Questions

• 1.
  How much do you typically speak during team meetings?

  • A.
    You actively participate, but you wait for open discussions. It's important to share feedback so the group can refine plans and ideas together.
  • B.
    Quite a bit. You feel it's important to offer in-the-moment feedback, even while someone else is presenting. Your comments will be more valuable if they're considered in-context. 
  • C.
    As little as possible. You cover your own agenda items but you generally do not weigh in during group discussions unless you're directly asked a question.
• 2.
  You overhear a colleague from another department talking about an upcoming campaign. You think the concept has a serious flaw. What do you do next?

  • A.
    Keep your lips zipped. Not your department, not your business. 
  • B.
    Seize the moment to save the other team from an embarrassing mistake. Say, "Excuse me, I couldn't help but overhear ..." and share your thoughts immediately. 
  • C.
    You understand that there may be additional context behind the snippet of conversation you heard, so you ask to speak to your boss privately to share your concern. In any case, raising the issue means that you've played your part in helping the company succeed. Your manager can decide what to do next.
• 3.
  You believe you're ready to take on more challenging assignments. What do you about it? 

  • A.
    Vent to your coworkers about how you feel unappreciated and under-utilized, while silently second-guessing all of your boss's decisions. Since management isn't smart enough to spot talent when they see it, it's probably time to start job-hunting.
  • B.
    Schedule a one-on-one with your manager to update them on how you've expanded your skill set and to inquire about opportunities for advancement.
  • C.
    Wait for your boss to notice how well you've been doing. Your work should speak for itself.
• 4.
  Everyone else on your team agrees you should release your new product feature next Friday, but you think it should be the following Monday. What do you next?

  • A.
    Go along with the group. You'll be proven right when the results come in. 
  • B.
    Compile historical data showing better results from Monday releases. Share your findings with the group (via Slack or in a quick meeting) so you can make a data-driven case for reconsidering the date. 
  • C.
    Argue and get frustrated. You don't understand how your colleagues are unaware that Fridays are terrible days for releases. That's why most corporate and government entities release bad news on Fridays – because people won't notice. 
• 5.
  Your co-worker, Dave, thinks he's always right. On top of that, he seems to have an endless appetite for arguing, so team meetings are often tense. How do you handle it?

  • A.
    Avoid dealing with him as much as possible. Be thankful that he can't see you drawing unattractive doodles of him over Zoom while he's talking. 
  • B.
    Address the elephant in the room. Interrupt Dave during a team meeting, saying "Other people deserve a chance to speak, too." Since Dave's behavior is impacting the whole group, the problem should be addressed in a group setting.
  • C.
    Approach your boss to discuss the negative impact that Dave is having on productivity and performance, citing a few specific examples of meetings-done-wrong. Explain that you're concerned the group is missing valuable insights from other members because Dave dominates every conversation.

Quiz Outcomes

• 1.
  Why keep all that brilliance to yourself?

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  Did you know that 50% of people don't regularly speak their minds at work? You probably did know, because you're one of them.Whether your silence stems from challenging team dynamics, imposter syndrome, or good old-fashioned shyness, it's likely that your fear of speaking up is holding you back. And get this: it may also be holding your team back, because you probably have useful insights to share. You may be surprised how valuable your contributions turn out to be.Need a nudge on how to start asserting yourself a little more? Head back to the blog post to learn about the do's and don'ts of speaking up at work.
• 2.
  You are a connoisseur of communication

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  No one says the right thing all the time, but you do a pretty good job of navigating the nuances of when to speak up and when to keep quiet.Since you're already on the right track, look for ways to refine your natural instincts for communication. (The article below is a great starting point.) Then, seek out opportunities to use your talents to your advantage. Volunteer to work on a cross-functional team, help interview candidates within your area of expertise, or mentor a younger colleague.
• 3.
  You're saying the words, but you're not making connections

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  Your confidence and willingness to assert yourself can be assets, for sure, but your approach may sometimes rub people the wrong way. Here's the upside: you can learn how to be a more effective communicator with a little effort and some practice – the same way you learned how to drive a car, balance your checking account, and do all the things you do in your job.There's a LOT more to communication than meets the eye. Check out the article below for some insights on how to tweak your approach so your messages will not only be received, but welcomed.