Talking to People in Power? Don’t Forget Your Own!

For many people, one of the most difficult (and unnerving) parts of day-to-day work life is speaking to authority. 

I jokingly refer to this as a feudal hangover—the knee jerk reaction we have, to rank (see for example Monty Python’s Class System sketch from 1966). 

Whether we’re speaking to teachers, bosses, or even parents, being able to speak with confidence and clarity to someone in power can be intimidating. Yet, being able to speak to whom you report with confidence and without hesitation or fear of reprisal is critical to your career.