Inspiring Workplaces: Speaking Up About the Need to Speak Up

Published: Wed, 06/14/17

Humor at Work

ISSUE 683 - June 14, 2017


			Speaking Up About the Need to Speak Up

	A recent survey found that 85% of employees across a diverse range of workplaces admitted to keeping quiet rather than speaking up about important concerns, 50% of employees in a technology company felt it wasn't safe to express dissenting views, and 40% of scientists at the US Food and Drug Administration felt they would face retaliation if they spoke up about safety concerns. So how would your workplace stack up? Whether we're talking about workplace safety issues, someone presenting a new idea in a meeting, or a front line employee asking the CEO a challenging question, an environment that shuts down opposing viewpoints, or suppresses difficult questions and open communication is a recipe for disaster: morale suffers, employees become disengaged, creativity and innovation are stifled, and employees lives can even be put at risk. A low-trust, communication-stifling workplace also suppresses humor in the workplace, and that's when you've clearly crossed a line in my books! Open and honest communication doesn't just happen by accident - you need to work at it. Here are two articles with some ideas on how to encourage more open communication in your workplace: Speaking Up! How to Encourage More Open and Honest Communication What Stop Employees From Speaking Up, What Helps Employees Speak Up

		Mike's Fun at Work Tip

June 15 is official Recess at Work Day so why not use it as an excuse to take a 15-minute fun break to remind your team of the rejuvenating power of getting away from your computer screens, out of your chairs, and having a little fun? Here are 15 ideas to get the creative wheels churning: Recess at Work Ideas.
		Quote of the Week

"Laughing at our mistakes can lengthen our own life. Laughing at someone else's can shorten it." Cullen Hightower
		It's a Wacky World

There's a Museum of Failure opening this June in Sweden, which will feature an eclectic array of failed products, such as Harley-Davidson perfume, Bic pens made exclusively for women (Bic for Her), and Trump - The Board Game. The museum is also planning events focused on failure such as musicians playing failed musical pieces or beer-tasting events involving failed brews. So what would you include in a Museum of Failure?

Cost-Savings to Bring Mike in to Speak
"Need to See Mom Special": Kelowna or Penticton, B.C. on-going
Toronto: Sept. 7-12
Cleveland: Sept. 25
Montreal: Nov. 23 or 25
Ottawa: Dec. 11-13
New Zealand: Feb. 20 - Mar. 5, 2018

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Ideas or Questions?
Let us know what your workplace is doing that might be of interest to readers OR let us know if you have a question or topic suggestion for Mike to tackle: mike@mikekerr.com

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