Stop Protecting Power—Start Protecting People
If your paycheck depends on silence, your team is already in trouble. Saying ‘no’ isn’t rebellion—it’s responsibility.
Last week, I had the privilege of attending MJ the Musical—part of the Broadway traveling series that graces my city. Beyond the dazzling choreography and iconic music, what lingered with me was something quieter, more sobering: the silence of the people around Michael.
Throughout the show, we see team members—managers, doctors, financial advisors—hesitate to speak up. They sidestep difficult conversations about health, money, and personal well-being. Why? Because the person they’d need to confront also signed their paychecks.
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It’s a dynamic many of us know too well. The fear of bringing “bad news” to those in power is real. We worry about being labeled difficult, disloyal, or dispensable. But here’s the truth: when we avoid hard truths, we don’t protect the team—we weaken it.
The Courage to Tell the King They Have No Clothes
There’s a moment in every leader’s journey when they need someone to say, “This isn’t working.” Not out of rebellion, but out of care. Saying “no” isn’t insubordination—it’s stewardship. It’s how we protect the integrity of our work, our teams, and ourselves.
I’ve learned that thriving communities aren’t built on compliance—they’re built on courageous conversations. And that starts with reclaiming the power of “no.”
Action Steps for Courageous Communication
- Normalize dissent: Create space in meetings for pushback and alternative views. Ask, “What might we be missing?”
- Build psychological safety: Make it clear that speaking up is valued, not punished.
- Model it yourself: Say “no” when needed. Show that boundaries are not barriers—they’re bridges to better outcomes.
- Support the truth-tellers: When someone raises a concern, thank them. Even if it’s uncomfortable.
We owe it to our teams—and to ourselves—to speak truth to power. Because silence may feel safe, but it rarely leads to strength.
Bill Ryan
Bridging Distance, Building Excellence – As founder and CEO of Ryan Consulting, I transform how organizations thrive in remote and virtual environments.
For over 25 years, I’ve been fascinated by one question: How do we create extraordinary connection and performance when teams aren’t in the same room? This question has guided my career helping organizations harness the full potential of their distributed workforce.
My approach is refreshingly practical. I align what I call the 3P’s—Purpose, People, and Process—creating frameworks where remote teams don’t just function, they flourish. In today’s landscape of rapid change, this alignment isn’t just helpful—it’s your competitive edge.
Working together, we’ll craft solutions precisely calibrated to your organization’s unique challenges. Whether through customized workshops on performance support, process refinement, mobile solutions, or organizational effectiveness, I bring proven strategies that deliver measurable results.
My greatest satisfaction comes from watching leaders, teams, and individuals discover they can collaborate more effectively across distance than they ever thought possible. In a world of constant change, that’s not just good business—it’s transformational.
Ready to reimagine what your remote workforce can achieve? Let’s connect.