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Also, my proofreader does a great job, but I make changes after she returns it, and errors creep in. I know accuracy is important and apologize for those errors. When readers point errors out, I make the corrections before I post the archive, (which I have been updating regularly lately.) Thanks for all your input.
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This Week in the World
Medical Apartheid

Harriet Washington wrote a book called Medical Apartheid: The Dark History of Medical Experimentation on Black Americans from Colonial Times to the Present. It tells tales of unethical medical practices and experimentation that targeted blacks, prisoners and the poor. One was the Tuskegee Experiment where 400 black men with syphilis were studied over a period of 40 years, believing they were being treated when in fact they were not. The study was well known because it was reported on in medical journals. Many of these men died horrible deaths, but only two people objected. One was a physician, Dr. Schatz, who wrote, “I’m shocked and astonished that you are permitting these men to continue dying of a treatable disease.” He received no response.

Another objection was raised by a low-level Public Health Interviewer Peter Buxton, who questioned the experiment at the risk of his job. He wrote many letters, after which the doctors called him into a room where they all lectured him, explaining the scientific process and why they were right to do this. Buxton left public health, went to law school, and through his entire three years of law school kept writing these letters. When he got no response, when they gave him the same silent treatment Dr. Schatz had gotten, he called a journalist friend and the AP ran the story, which is how the study ended.

One of the lame excuses we use for not speaking up is, “no one else is saying anything.” It’s easy to trick ourselves into thinking the majority knows what’s right. History has proven that isn’t true. For the hundreds who knew and stayed silent, only two dared speak the truth. But thanks to the one who spoke and persisted, the abuse was discontinued. One person (you) can make a difference.

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PowerPhrase of the Week
We're Sounding Adversarial

The conversation wasn’t going well. Charissa wanted to work with her husband to reach resolution, but it seemed she had triggered his defensiveness. She suggested,

• This is sounding more adversarial than problem-solving. Perhaps we should take a break.

By identifying the dynamic, Charissa and her husband were able to get beyond it…and to get back on the same team.

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Poison Phrase of the Week
We Forgot to Tell You...

It’s not so much a Poison Phrase but more of a communication faux pas.

Who you hear the truth from matters, and when many reservists heard their deployments were extended from their families because the guard neglected to notify the reservists themselves, it created awkwardness and bad feeling. This happened both in New Jersey and Minnesota. The guard leaders were appropriately apologetic.

Employees should not learn about layoffs from the media, managers should not learn about their employee errors from their own supervisors, and no one should have to learn they were passed over for a promotion from the person they were passed over for.

Who do you need to keep in the loop so they don’t feel like an afterthought when they find out elsewhere?

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Ask Meryl
Email Abuse

Meryl,

Do you have suggestions or guidelines on when electronic communications are used too much?

Meryl Responds

I talk about it in my PowerPhrases book.

If the goal is efficiency, email is perfect. If the goal is connection, email is a poor substitute for personal contact.

As soon as some tension is experienced, pick up the phone or walk over to talk directly. If you want to create a personal connection, pick up the phone or walk over to talk directly. If you want to stand out and make an impression, pick up the phone or walk over to talk directly – or send a card.

When deciding on your medium, ask yourself whether your priority is efficiency or connection and choose accordingly.

I hope this helps – let me know if you have a more specific question.

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Got a question? Send it to us at SpeakStrong. We answer as many questions as we can personally. We may use your question in the newsletter anonymously unless we are asked not to. When we respond, please email us back to tell us you received the response and give us feedback.

Reader Success Story
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A Bit More Applause Please

We Thought This Was None of Our Business

What Do You Think

If You Can Manage to Get There

Issue 254
January 25, 2007

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SpeakStrong
Quote
from Meryl

"When you conclude a situation must be okay because no one else is saying anything, you are making a lame excuse to avoid taking a risk to do the right thing."

~ Meryl Runion~

SpeakStrong Definition:

To express yourself both powerfully & effectively; to say what you mean, mean what you say, without being mean when you say it.

SpeakStrong
Quote
from the wisdom of others

"Care more than others think wise.
Risk more than others think safe.
Dream more than others think practical.
Expect more than others think possible."
Howard Schultz, CEO Starbucks Coffee

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