Speaking Up at Work

CHAPTER 3

Persuading Without Authority

Throughout the stories of speaking up, it understandably emerged that how individuals spoke up was important. Many individuals had nuanced ways they thought about the process. These were necessary especially without formal authority, which is the authority granted to an individual in an organizational hierarchy. In many respects, one of the most critical components of our persuasiveness in any situation is whether we have formal authority. If we do not have formal authority as a result of our position, then we must use informal means of persuasion. Thus, persuasion through how we communicate and how we build credibility is essential. The following chapter will explore examples of being an independent thinker ...