Howard Schultz and Starbucks go out on a limb with Race Together. . . still a timeless topic that so desperately needs conversation and collaboration. And here comes the blow back about how it's not appropriate for a coffee shop and how baristas don't have the time and how people just want their coffee.
Patricia Arquette has the gut wisdom to use her Oscar speech to address the need for equal pay for women; then is quickly taken to task for a perceived mis-speak to the press in the moments thereafter.
What do the stories have in common? In both instances, courage was used to say what needed to be said; in both instances the strong intents were criticized not so much for their message, but for their tactics.
What a shame. When people speak their minds to say what we believe needs to be said, we should have a portion of their courage to back them up and not quibble about the time or space or use of an adverb or adjective.
The same is true in the workplace. So often I have seen people deliver strong products or courageous messages only to be cut short by peers for "not saying it to the right people," "it wasn't appropriate at that time." "It wasn't double spaced. . .on letterhead."
Seriously.
There is absolutely a place for correct tactics - I happen to be a greater fan of the right timing of the right communication than most people. That being said, let's not belittle good, or even courageous work by quibbling about "how it got done."
No one is ever going to get it completely right. No one is ever going to please all the people. We do the best we can.
And the best we can be includes not belittling words of courage by sniffling about the delivery.
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My book "Courageous Questions, Confident Leaders" is available for e-readers, PCs and tablets on Amazon Kindle.
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