Knowing how to be heard when the stakes are high is crucial

Voting's hard.

You perceive immorality. Notify omissions. Inappropriate language. Contradict a popular opinion. Changes?

We'd all want to think that if we saw anything, we'd say something, but we're bad at forecasting the future, and it may be hard to speak out in the moment. Study: most people justify their idleness.

If you don't contribute, you're not a good worker, friend, or leader. Afterwards?

Know how hard and important speaking up is.

"Realistic optimism" study shows that people are more likely to finish difficult activities if they expect them to be challenging. It's vital to differentiate between believing you'll succeed and assuming you will.

Self-confident women on a weight-loss programme lost 26 more pounds than self-doubters, according to NYU psychologist Gabriele Oettingen. Those who expected success rapidly lost 24 pounds less.

Speaking up isn't easy.

Second, lessen speaking out's social risk.

People want status, autonomy, relatedness, and fairness. Everyone needs group esteem, life confidence, freedom of choice, social interactions, and reciprocity. Reward and risk drive human connection.

When speaking out, any of these five buttons may be used, but status is most preferred, especially for chain of command. Make it clear you're not out to get the person(s) you're discussing. Effect without intent. Even if you didn't mean to, here's how I interpreted your joke. State your goals for clarity-loving people. Knowing someone helps you adapt.

Plan.

Uncertainty causes inaction. Uncertainty leads to inactivity. "I'm unprepared"

Prepare. If-then planners are 30% more successful. Even though you can't predict every situation, preparing how to speak out may help.

Recognize your speaking opportunities. When your supervisor makes a poor decision, when you see an opportunity to improve a service, or when a colleague interrupts junior team members in meetings. What's your plan? Will you confront someone directly or not? How will you talk? If-then plan. Then if.

This technique is respectful and effective.