I was interested last week to learn of Dee Snider’s request to the Mitt Romney campaign to cease playing his music. I can’t say I’m a big fan of one or the other, but his statement “There is almost nothing he stands for that I agree with…” struck a chord with me. I admired the statement for two reasons:
- Snider is staying true to his principles, and
- He’s not being a jerk about it. He didn’t take the opportunity to fling insults or belittle Romney, he just told it like it is.
In the communication industry it is inevitable that your values will conflict with those of a client at some point. It’s hard to decide when to voice your objection, especially when you’re not the boss.
A few years ago now my employer took on a job building a website which taught some very unorthodox variations of Christianity. I nervously requested to be exempt from the project, and the employer graciously honoured my request. Later on I explained that my position was not based on intolerance but the fact that if I care about other people, I will care enough to protect them from what, in my humble opinion, is damaging to them spiritually.
It’s somewhat easier but still no less uncomfortable now that I am self-employed. Just last week I had a serious conversation with a client about what I thought were deeply materialistic messages on their website. I was thankful that the client was also very reasonable and receptive to my criticism, so much that I felt that an ongoing relationship was in the best interest of both of us.
Lesson learned? It’s well worth it to be brave, be courteous, be honest, and have integrity mixed with humility. No one respects a yes-man, and a yes-man doesn’t end up respecting himself. I’m grateful that neither of the above situations resulted badly, but even if they did, I believe I would still be happier in the end for speaking up.