One of the things I've often seen in the workplace, is young professionals not knowing how to disagree with a person more senior or "powerful" than they are.

Disagreeing is not bad, it's being disagreeable that's a problem.

A Short thread.

It’s a often natural human reaction to shy away from disagreeing with a superior - as many have also been raised to defer to authority; teachers, clerics, parents, bosses etc.

So we have a natural bias to avoid situations that might harm us, because our 1st instinct is survival.

We have been averagely made to align disagreeing with authority to have negative implications.

Why would anyone prefer negative implications when it's just plain easier to agree - even it's not always the right & progressive thing to do.

Your teacher has made a mistake, but you can't correct them because you might get punished for that.

Your referred cleric has made an error or fallacy - but you don't want to be rebel.

Your boss proposed a new initiative you think won’t work or a senior colleague outlined a project timeline that is unrealistic.

How do you decide whether it’s worth speaking up? And if you do, what exactly should you say when you disagree with someone more powerful than you?