As a communicator by profession, I will be the first to admit that too much information is flying around. It comes in multi-formats: written, video, audio, long-form and, short-form. We are inundated with information. And honestly, it can be tempting to want to keep quiet because surely there are people already sharing what you are thinking. But I disagree. Your voice, and your thoughts are needed now more than ever.
Why am I advocating for this? When I was young, I remember watching a movie called “10 Things I Hate About You” and in a scene in the classroom there was a huge poster written, “What is right is not always popular and what is popular is not always right”. I think about this quote now more than ever. Some of the information that “trends” on all platforms – is questionable. And some of the “thought leaders” that these trends have created are as questionable. We see it as well in the workplace, the loudest person could be so wrong but because they are playing to the visibility politics – ultimately whatever they share is considered and ultimately believed.
Hence, I am saying to you, who is sitting on thoughts, ideas, and opinions but choosing not to share them – are you not allowing for those you believe are left unchallenged to be left unchallenged. Allowing for misinformation to spread. Allowing for what Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie calls the danger of a single story to remain prevalent.
As an academic I know for a fact there is always room for new knowledge, there is room to critique existing knowledge and there is room to add to current knowledge. Therefore – your silence is not a solution.
Speak up. Catch the words in the air. Speaking can be through blogging, vlogging, podcasts, in meetings, in a book club, or opinion articles published in newspapers – speak up. Speaking up is equivalent to exercising. You must consistently do it for you to see improvement in your fitness.
So, I hope this is the push you need to create, to share your ideas, and views, and to never feel silenced again. Do it scared, do it when your thoughts are unpolished, do it shaking… but just do it.
Tokiso Molefe 