Good Essay On Dissent Barriers

One such occasion when I did not agree with my reporting officer’s decision about a matter but did not express my dissent was a decision to conduct an inter-division analysis on a particular framework which was earlier used at my workplace.
The said framework was used earlier but at that time, was being phased out. Such an inter-division analysis was conducted in previous years to gauge the usefulness and efficiency of the framework. My reporting officer wanted to conduct the analysis that year also. However, since it was being phased out, I did not feel that the analysis was required and had tried to convey my views to him initially. However, he persisted that such an analysis must be conducted. At that point, I did not convey my dissent and followed the order.
Many factors were responsible for me to not express my dissent again and simply follow the order. My reporting officer at the time was not very receptive of feedback from subordinates. This was the major reason why I did not convey my thoughts strongly. Further, I suspected that if he gets offended, it would not be good for me in the long run as he could have affected my performance review and compensation.
These two factors were the major reasons why I remained silent over my boss’s decision. These factors were more or less related to me and my future growth in the organization. In addition to these factors, another factor was that the analysis was pretty standard and would not have used a lot of the organization’s resources. Thus, I realised that not much harm was being done to the organization even if the analysis is conducted that year as well.
In the end, it was my realisation and final decision that personal harm from expressing dissent could be much more than the harm to the organization even if the analysis is allowed to continue.
The two main barriers that kept me from voicing my dissent were shortcomings on the part of the leadership and me realising the futility of expressing dissent in terms of the bigger picture.
In my opinion, the fact that my reporting officer was not very receptive to feedback from subordinates and could have been easily offended by my voicing my dissent. This would have meant that my future growth prospects might have been affected.
This can be attributed in my opinion, to certain shortcomings on the part of leadership. Leaders are supposed to encourage underlings to participate in decision making process so that it may benefit them as individuals in their development as well as benefit the organization.
Also, leaders should be able to distinguish work related dissent and year end performance review. If a subordinate is always in fear that showing dissent will cost him at a later date, it supresses exchange of ideas and is not good in the long run.
Further, since I made a brief estimate that even if the analysis is done for this year, it will not cost the organization too much, futility also played an important role in me deciding to not show my dissent again.
Overall, the main factors responsible for me not showing my dissent were predicting harm to myself and predicting supervisors’ deafness. Further, the main barriers to dissent were leadership shortcomings and futility of the situation.