The Cost of Silence

Imagine a world where a single voice defies oppression and rewrites history. This is the story of Manal al-Sharif, a remarkable advocate for women's rights, author, speaker, and visionary, with whom I recently had the privilege of connecting with.

Manal's journey is not just a story; it's a testament to the awe-inspiring power of one voice that refused to be silenced.

In 2011, inside Saudi Arabia, where women were denied the basic freedom of driving, Manal took a daring step that would reshape history. She co-founded and led the groundbreaking #Women2Drive movement. Her act of defiance was beautifully simple yet revolutionary – she sat behind the wheel and filmed herself driving, challenging societal norms. However, change rarely comes without resistance, and Manal paid a steep price, enduring nine days of imprisonment for the "crime" of "driving while female."

But even under the oppressive weight of her release conditions – exile from her homeland and separation from her son – she refused to bow to silence. Her courage set off a nationwide movement that eventually shattered the ban on women driving in Saudi Arabia.

In our conversation, one quote resonated deeply within me:
"The cost of silence is crippling because it allows tyranny and injustice to prosper." 

Manal al-Sharif's journey echoes a powerful truth: every transformation, every movement, begins with that one brave voice.

Amy Edmondson, a Harvard Business School professor, and author of "The Fearless Organisation," is a pioneer of ‘psychological safety’. Her Voice-Silence Calculator sheds light on a widespread issue: people frequently opt to remain silent instead of voicing their concerns, even when they recognise a problem. 

What's one small step you can take today to encourage speaking up over silence in your team or organisation?

PS. Want to dive deeper into this inspiring journey with us? Join me on Instagram for polls, discussions, and more. Follow @Holly_Ransom to be part of the conversation!