Nonsense At Work

Free speech at work:

I’ve been accused of coming across angry lately.  I’m so pleased you’ve noticed.

Let me tell you why I’m a little annoyed.  This country was built on something called free speech.  Not only free speech, because free speech on its own is useless.  It only works if someone is prepared to listen.  Note I said ‘listen’.  I did not say ‘agree’.

You know what I’ve noticed?  Many business executives don’t tolerate free speech at work.  And they seldom listen.

If this country became great because people could speak their minds freely in the hope of influencing others, why is it that so many executives believe that the way to build a great company is to get junior people to shut up?

I suppose my problem is that I know I am fallible, which is why I keep asking people ‘so, what do you think?’  I wonder what our world would be like if more CEOs entertained the idea of possibly being fallible.

I’m James McIntosh at nonsenseatwork.com

Listen to the radio version of Free Speech At Work (10 most recent radio files)

© 2009 James Henry McIntosh