The internet was abuzz last week when Mo’Nique told the world how she felt about being mistreated in her industry. Not only did she express her distaste for being “blackballed”, she passionately communicated what Lee Daniels, Tyler Perry and Oprah Winfrey “could do” according to PopCulture.com. Like it or not, Mo’Nique was right.
- When you as a woman feel as though you’ve been mistreated, disrespected and discriminated against, you should absolutely speak up.
- When you as a woman feel as though you need to create boundaries and speak your truth, you should absolutely do so.
However comma- becoming a trending topic in your workplace and in your industry isn’t always a good thing. While Mo’ felt she should stand up for herself and rightfully so, I have to ask:
- Was it the right time to discuss the conflict?
- Was it the right place to address the issue?
- Was it the right platform to resolve the problem?
- What are the short-term and long-term consequences of how the situation was addressed?
- Will the answers to questions 1-4 resolve the conflict?
When you “use your voice” in the workplace, allow the power of your words to not only create results but to also create wins. Simply ask yourself the aforementioned questions, consider intent vs. outcome, incorporate emotional intelligence and have the courage to as well as the wisdom to know when to hold ’em; know when to fold em’; know when to walk away and know when to run.