Dare I Say What I Really Think?

I recently attended a meeting of professional women in the energy industry.  The speaker's topic was related to the partnership of industry and academia.  For an ice-breaking table topic the speaker posted the picture of Marissa Mayer, CEO of Yahoo, on the cover of Vogue magazine and asked, "Does she look like a CEO?".

Our table grew quiet for a few minutes as we all scanned the picture.  I saw a a very beautiful woman in a very blue and professional dress posed horizontal and upside down on a crisp white lounge chair.  Very Vogue - I thought.  It struck me as fun, beautiful, powerful and professional.  Other views came forth.  Some saying it really wasn't professional for a CEO. Everyone is welcome to their opinion.  

It was easy to state my opinion but I am sure not so much for others. Especially if after hearing others speak at the table, they realize their opinion varied greatly from the norm.  

I saw it as a great lesson in risk taking.  Are you willing to share an opinion that is different than the group's?  If you do or you don't - what harm will result? Or what good or positive steps forward will be acknowledged or missed?

I see Marissa Mayer as a risk taker and applaud her actions.  She posed for this picture, knowing the conversations that would ensue, but was not afraid. Her reputation and her performance stand strong.

I recall speaking with a meeting attendee before everyone was seated and the meeting actually began. I said it was possible to move up in the corporate world without selling your soul.  She looked back at me with surprise, hope and a "how can I do that?" attitude.  Look at Marissa, there is one example for you right there.

Dare I say what I really think?  Yes, I dare.

If you would like to see the picture and article, follow the link below.
http://www.vogue.com/magazine/article/hail-to-the-chief-yahoos-marissa-mayer/#1

Be the One to Get It Done

Speaking up can be quite a risk, from the corporate world to a personal situation.  If you speak up at work, depending on the culture of your organization, it can be a career changer - sometimes career suicide.  If we speak up in a personal situation we may lose a friendship or more.  People sometimes forget that doing nothing is also a risk.  If we don't speak up, it could possibly be more detrimental than saying what is on our mind.

A young professional was getting frustrated with individuals from another department that were supposed to be showing up to meetings and were late or completely absent.  In the meetings, summer students were making presentations on their summer projects.  They spent countless hours preparing for the event as their future opportunities at the company might be affected by this performance. The individuals that were late or missing from the meetings were supposed to evaluate these students.  Their behavior was so disrespectful and unprofessional.  The frustrated individual wrote a note to higher ups detailing the problem and requested a change in their behavior.  It was so wonderful to hear about him standing up to what was wrong within his organization.

So many people stand by and tolerate bad behavior by saying or doing nothing.  I salute those warriors who are up to the challenge of making things happen for the better of all.

Be the one to get it done!