{"id":21042,"date":"2025-12-12T15:00:00","date_gmt":"2025-12-12T13:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.jobberman.com.gh\/discover\/?p=21042"},"modified":"2025-12-12T16:37:12","modified_gmt":"2025-12-12T14:37:12","slug":"office-buzz-when-speaking-up-goes-wrong","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.jobberman.com.gh\/discover\/office-buzz-when-speaking-up-goes-wrong","title":{"rendered":"Office Buzz: When Speaking Up\u2026 Goes Wrong"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-yoast-seo-estimated-reading-time yoast-reading-time__wrapper\"><span class=\"yoast-reading-time__icon\"><svg aria-hidden=\"true\" focusable=\"false\" data-icon=\"clock\" width=\"20\" height=\"20\" fill=\"none\" stroke=\"currentColor\" style=\"display:inline-block;vertical-align:-0.1em\" role=\"img\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\"><path stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" stroke-width=\"2\" d=\"M12 8v4l3 3m6-3a9 9 0 11-18 0 9 9 0 0118 0z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/span><span class=\"yoast-reading-time__spacer\" style=\"display:inline-block;width:1em\"><\/span><span class=\"yoast-reading-time__descriptive-text\">Estimated reading time: 3 <\/span><span class=\"yoast-reading-time__reading-time\">0<\/span><span class=\"yoast-reading-time__time-unit\"> minutes<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Every workplace loves confidence. Every manager says, \u201cMy door is always open.\u201d Every employee is encouraged to speak up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But what many people forget is this: Speaking up is an art. And sometimes, it\u2019s not your message that gets you in trouble, it\u2019s your timing\u2026 and your audience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n<p>Let\u2019s explore what happens when well-meaning professionals speak up at the wrong time or to the wrong person.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_82_2 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-69f994a191cb9\" class=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-label\"><span class=\"ez-toc-cssicon\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/label><input type=\"checkbox\"  id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-69f994a191cb9\"  aria-label=\"Toggle\" \/><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.jobberman.com.gh\/discover\/office-buzz-when-speaking-up-goes-wrong\/#1_When_Cristiano_Ronaldo_Spoke_Up_to_Piers_Morgan\" >1. When Cristiano Ronaldo Spoke Up to Piers Morgan<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.jobberman.com.gh\/discover\/office-buzz-when-speaking-up-goes-wrong\/#2_Mo_Salahs_Press_Interview\" >2. Mo Salah\u2019s Press Interview&nbsp;<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.jobberman.com.gh\/discover\/office-buzz-when-speaking-up-goes-wrong\/#3_In_the_Office_Kwames_%E2%80%9CBrutal_Honesty%E2%80%9D_That_Backfired\" >3. In the Office: Kwame\u2019s \u201cBrutal Honesty\u201d That Backfired<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.jobberman.com.gh\/discover\/office-buzz-when-speaking-up-goes-wrong\/#Moral_of_the_Story\" >Moral of the Story<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/www.jobberman.com.gh\/discover\/office-buzz-when-speaking-up-goes-wrong\/#What_We_Can_Deduce_from_This_Weeks_Office_Buzz\" >What We Can Deduce from This Week\u2019s Office Buzz?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/www.jobberman.com.gh\/discover\/office-buzz-when-speaking-up-goes-wrong\/#1_Being_Right_Is_Not_Enough_If_the_Timing_Is_Wrong\" >1. Being Right Is Not Enough If the Timing Is Wrong<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/www.jobberman.com.gh\/discover\/office-buzz-when-speaking-up-goes-wrong\/#2_Emotional_Reactions_Can_Distort_a_Good_Message\" >2. Emotional Reactions Can Distort a Good Message<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/www.jobberman.com.gh\/discover\/office-buzz-when-speaking-up-goes-wrong\/#3_Sensitive_Issues_Require_Private_Not_Public_Channels\" >3. Sensitive Issues Require Private, Not Public Channels<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/www.jobberman.com.gh\/discover\/office-buzz-when-speaking-up-goes-wrong\/#4_Your_Delivery_Determines_Whether_People_Listen_or_Defend\" >4. Your Delivery Determines Whether People Listen or Defend<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/www.jobberman.com.gh\/discover\/office-buzz-when-speaking-up-goes-wrong\/#5_Strategic_Communication_Protects_Your_Professional_Image\" >5. Strategic Communication Protects Your Professional Image<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-11\" href=\"https:\/\/www.jobberman.com.gh\/discover\/office-buzz-when-speaking-up-goes-wrong\/#Final_Takeaway\" >Final Takeaway<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-1-when-cristiano-ronaldo-spoke-up-to-piers-morgan\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"1_When_Cristiano_Ronaldo_Spoke_Up_to_Piers_Morgan\"><\/span>1. When Cristiano Ronaldo Spoke Up to Piers Morgan<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Cristiano Ronaldo\u2019s explosive interview before his exit from Manchester United is one classic example. Nothing he said was particularly new; he had concerns. He did feel sidelined. He was frustrated. But the problem? Wrong timing. Wrong platform. Wrong audience. The outcome? A legendary footballer found himself walking out of his boyhood club earlier than expected. Not because he spoke\u2026 but because he didn\u2019t speak to the right people at the right time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-2-mo-salah-s-press-interview-nbsp\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"2_Mo_Salahs_Press_Interview\"><\/span>2. Mo Salah\u2019s Press Interview&nbsp;<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Mohammed Salah is another powerful example.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>At some point, there were speculations because he was openly expressing dissatisfaction, publicly, subtly, and sometimes indirectly. But football clubs don\u2019t operate on emotions; they operate on contracts, timing, and strategy.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>In an interview Mo Salah poured out his frustrations, he said \u201cI\u2019m very, very disappointed. To be fair, I have done so much for this club down the years and especially last season. Now I\u2019m sitting on the bench and I don\u2019t know why. It seems like the club has thrown me under the bus. That is how I am feeling. I think it is very clear that someone wanted me to get all of the blame\u201d. &#8211; Source: <a class=\"article-body-links\"href=\"https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/2025\/12\/09\/sport\/soccer-mohamed-salah-liverpool-saga-explained\">CNN<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Speaking too soon, too openly, or too emotionally can distort negotiations and place a player in a difficult position. Again, the story teaches us: There is a difference between honesty and timing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-3-in-the-office-kwame-s-brutal-honesty-that-backfired\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"3_In_the_Office_Kwames_%E2%80%9CBrutal_Honesty%E2%80%9D_That_Backfired\"><\/span>3. In the Office: Kwame\u2019s \u201cBrutal Honesty\u201d That Backfired<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Now, let\u2019s bring it home to our Ghanaian offices, because every workplace has a Kwame. Kwame works in Finance. Brilliant guy. Sharp. Always ready to prove a point.<br>During a major management meeting, just when the Director finished presenting Q4 projections, Kwame raised his hand: \u201cPlease, I think these numbers are not realistic. We\u2019re setting ourselves up for failure.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Valid point, yes.<br>But guess what?<br>This was a meeting with external partners present, and Kwame hadn\u2019t discussed his concerns internally first. His line manager shot him a look that could fry kelewele.<br>The room went silent. Partners raised their eyebrows. The meeting derailed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Later, Kwame was pulled aside and told, \u201cYou\u2019re right\u2026 but that was the wrong place, wrong audience, wrong moment.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Since then, he learned something important: Sometimes being right doesn\u2019t matter if the room is wrong.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-moral-of-the-story\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Moral_of_the_Story\"><\/span>Moral of the Story<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><a class=\"article-body-links\"href=\"https:\/\/www.jobberman.com.gh\/discover\/basic-soft-skills\">Speaking up<\/a> is powerful. Necessary. Important.<br>But even the truth can cause damage if delivered:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>To the wrong person<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>At the wrong time<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>In the wrong setting<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>With the wrong tone<br><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Before you speak, ask yourself:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Is this the right moment?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Is this the right audience?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Is this the right platform?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Is this the right emotional state for me?<br><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p>Because in the end, communication is not just about what you say, it\u2019s about how and when you say it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-what-we-can-deduce-from-this-week-s-office-buzz\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_We_Can_Deduce_from_This_Weeks_Office_Buzz\"><\/span>What We Can Deduce from This Week\u2019s Office Buzz?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>This week\u2019s Office Buzz teaches us a powerful workplace truth: Speaking up is important, but speaking up at the wrong time or to the wrong person can cost you influence, credibility, and even opportunities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Here\u2019s what we can draw from the examples shared:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-1-being-right-is-not-enough-if-the-timing-is-wrong\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"1_Being_Right_Is_Not_Enough_If_the_Timing_Is_Wrong\"><\/span>1. Being Right Is Not Enough If the Timing Is Wrong<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Ronaldo\u2019s concerns at Manchester United were valid, but sharing them at the peak of team tension and in a public interview overshadowed his message.<br>In the workplace, even the most accurate feedback or observation loses its value if delivered during high tension, in a meeting that isn\u2019t meant for it, or before aligning with your team internally. The truth can be right and still land in the wrong place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-2-emotional-reactions-can-distort-a-good-message\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"2_Emotional_Reactions_Can_Distort_a_Good_Message\"><\/span>2. Emotional Reactions Can Distort a Good Message<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>When emotions run high, our <a class=\"article-body-links\"href=\"https:\/\/www.jobberman.com.gh\/discover\/when-emotions-boil-over-the-power-of-emotional-intelligence-at-work\">communication<\/a> becomes louder but less strategic.<br>Kwame\u2019s outburst during the Finance presentation may have come from a place of honesty, but the emotion behind it made the message disruptive rather than helpful. Speaking while frustrated, embarrassed, or defensive often turns communication into confrontation. Great communicators know how to pause, breathe, and choose the right moment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-3-sensitive-issues-require-private-not-public-channels\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"3_Sensitive_Issues_Require_Private_Not_Public_Channels\"><\/span>3. Sensitive Issues Require Private, Not Public Channels<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Not every concern needs a public audience.<br>Raising sensitive issues in front of the wrong crowd, external partners, clients, or senior leaders can derail conversations and embarrass your team.<br>Just like Mo Salah\u2019s early openness about dissatisfaction created unnecessary speculation, employees can unintentionally create internal tension when they speak too openly before speaking internally. Private conversations can save public reputations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-4-your-delivery-determines-whether-people-listen-or-defend\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"4_Your_Delivery_Determines_Whether_People_Listen_or_Defend\"><\/span>4. Your Delivery Determines Whether People Listen or Defend<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>When <a class=\"article-body-links\"href=\"https:\/\/www.jobberman.com.gh\/discover\/basic-soft-skills\">communication <\/a>is poorly timed or poorly phrased, people focus on how you spoke rather than what you said. That\u2019s why Kwame\u2019s important point got dismissed; his delivery overshadowed his message. The best communicators choose a calm tone, the right setting, and the right level of detail to ensure their message lands constructively. How you speak determines whether people hear you or resist you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-5-strategic-communication-protects-your-professional-image\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"5_Strategic_Communication_Protects_Your_Professional_Image\"><\/span>5. Strategic Communication Protects Your Professional Image<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Your reputation at work is built on what you say and how you say it. Knowing when to speak, when to wait, and when to escalate privately is a form of emotional intelligence that leaders value deeply. Professionals who master timing are often seen as thoughtful, mature, and leadership-ready. Speaking wisely builds your brand more than speaking first.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-final-takeaway\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Final_Takeaway\"><\/span>Final Takeaway<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><em>This week\u2019s Office Buzz leaves us with a simple but powerful reminder: Communication is not just about honesty; it is about strategy. When you understand timing, audience, and delivery, your voice becomes more credible, more respected, and far more impactful.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>This is the office buzz! Work, Culture and everything in between. Don&#8217;t forget to share this with that colleague who needs to read this.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Speaking up is an art. And sometimes, it\u2019s not your message that gets you in trouble, it\u2019s your timing. what happens you speak up at the wrong time?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":132,"featured_media":21044,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4,1116],"tags":[1747,2085],"content_author":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-21042","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-career-development","8":"category-life-at-work","9":"tag-life-at-work","10":"tag-speaking-up"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.jobberman.com.gh\/discover\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21042","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.jobberman.com.gh\/discover\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.jobberman.com.gh\/discover\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jobberman.com.gh\/discover\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/132"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jobberman.com.gh\/discover\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=21042"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.jobberman.com.gh\/discover\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21042\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jobberman.com.gh\/discover\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/21044"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.jobberman.com.gh\/discover\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=21042"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jobberman.com.gh\/discover\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=21042"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jobberman.com.gh\/discover\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=21042"},{"taxonomy":"content_author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jobberman.com.gh\/discover\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/content_author?post=21042"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}