Speak Up, Speak Out (HBR Women at Work Series)

Make yourself heard.

When women we admire such as Ruth Bader Ginsburg advise “Speak the truth, even if your voice shakes” and Vice President Kamala Harris has to remind a room full of men “I’m speaking,” it can feel as though having our own voices heard at work can be a lost cause. Whether we’re confronting a colleague about an inappropriate comment or trying to avoid being talked over by a male colleague—again—we can find ways to have our voices heard at work.

Speak Up, Speak Out helps listeners use their voices more effectively to sound off on issues large and small. From addressing sexual harassment to micro-aggressions to breaking through subconscious gendered conversational patterns, you’ll find research, advice, and practical tips to help you move forward.

This book will inspire you to: prepare for the most common scenarios you’ll encounter; step in when you witness untoward behavior; address and redirect an inappropriate conversation; break ingrained conversational habits like apologizing and complimenting; deal with interrupters and overspeakers; and know when to engage—and how to respond.