In many workplaces there’s an unwritten rule that talking about certain things is off-limits.
Everybody knows that around here, you just don’t say “those things” because it might rock the boat. You certainly don’t want to upset anyone, and you may feel like you must avoid even a hint of conflict, no matter how strongly you feel about a subject.
Even when you are in a position of responsibility and you know how important it is to say those things, you hesitate because you don’t want to be misunderstood. On some level, you agree with the police investigator who, when shown a book on truth-telling in business relationships, blurted out,
“If you tell the truth too bluntly, you’ll get your ass in trouble.”
