What I Couldn't Say As A Teacher

I’ve spent the last few days talking publicly about education in a way I never could when I was still working in it.

For some of you, this may also be the first time you’re learning that I spent 15 years in the classroom before leaving education and going all in on my business.

As I share more of that chapter of my life, you’re also going to hear more about some of the vocal roadblocks I experienced within it.

Psychological safety is one of them.

I’ve taught about psychological safety as a vocal roadblock for years because having something to say and feeling safe enough to say it are two very different things.

Over the last few days, educators have messaged me to say, “Thank you for saying what I can’t say.”

You can have plenty to say and still be calculating what it could cost you to say it.

Will I be supported?

Could speaking up affect my job?

Will I be labelled difficult?

Will anything actually change?

At that point, we’re no longer only talking about confidence. We’re talking about safety.

And while education is the reason I’m talking about this so openly right now, this vocal roadblock can exist anywhere.

At work. In a relationship. Around family. Within a community. Anywhere you’ve learned that speaking honestly may come with consequences.

You can know exactly what you think, what you need or what you want to say and still decide that this isn’t the person, place or moment to say it.

That doesn’t make you voiceless.

I trust myself to know when, where, and how to use my voice.

Vocal confidence does not mean saying everything, everywhere, to everyone.

It also doesn’t mean forcing yourself to speak because staying quiet must automatically mean you’re afraid.

Sometimes fear is the roadblock and the work is challenging yourself to speak.

Other times, your hesitation is connected to what you already know about the environment you’re in, the people involved or the consequences you may have to navigate afterward.

So before you criticize yourself for not speaking up, ask yourself:

Am I afraid to use my voice, or does something about this environment make using it feel unsafe?

Those are two very different vocal roadblocks and they require two very different responses.

I trust myself to know when, where, and how to use my voice.