Power Up, Stand Up, SpeakTall 7
He responded, “Sheila, are you suggesting I am asking you to
do something illegal? I wouldn’t do that! Now, please do what
I am paying you to do.”
So Sheila’s hand went over her mouth. She put herself on
mute and did what she was instructed. One year later, Sheila
was a codefendant in a lawsuit. Sheila would have given any-
thing to have spoken tall and used a PowerPhrase such as,
I am not willing to make this transfer until it is clear to
me that this is appropriate.Janet, a nurse in a clinic also regretted her silence. One of the
doctors was everything Janet did not like in a manager and
in a man. He had arrogance. He had elitism. He even had a
comb-over. When Janet mentioned what she thought was
wrong with one patient, her doctor-boss said, “Janet, I have
a great idea. Why don’t you be the nurse, and I’ll be the
doctor.”
Janet was stunned. Janet’s hand went over her mouth. She
went on mute and decided not to offer any more suggestions.
Two weeks later, a young man came into the office whom Janet
suspected had meningitis. She kept her hand over her mouth
and didn’t say a word. Two days after that, the young man
passed away from undiagnosed meningitis. Being right did not
soothe Janet’s pain. She relived the event many times, imagin-
ing that instead of cowering that she had risen up, spoken tall,
and said,
I understand you prefer not to hear my opinion. I feel
compelled to offer it because I suspect he has meningitis.