An essay on aircraft flying safety, "Learning How To Say 'No'" by James Albright, offers five suggestions for speaking "truth to power" and telling one's boss (or other authority) that something they want is unwise. Adapted and summarized:

• Transfer Ownership — "... If you can cite a law, regulation or operations manual entry that forbids the intended action, you can effectively transfer ownership of the word 'No.' Then it is not a matter of your refusal, but submission to a higher power. Be very careful to emphasize your agreement with the law or rule. ..."
• Delay and Redirect — "... If you are surprised by a request, a polite response that you will 'think about it' can help delay your eventual denial. ..." Sometimes "... coming up with a 'Yes' response to a different question ..." is a good solution.
• Explain — "... A 'No' is often easier to take when the reason behind it is made clear. ..."
• Start with a Clean Slate — Don't let "we've always done it this way" last forever. "... Just as individuals can become complacent and vulnerable to the 'we've always done it that way' syndrome, so too can organizations lose focus on what really matters. There are natural opportunities to look at processes from the bottom up, such as after a change in leadership ..."
• Play the Safety Card — Don't compromise on fundamental principles

And in the end, "... If all your refusals to comply with ill-considered demands land on deaf ears, it could very well be time to firmly say 'No' as your final answer, accepting the risk that it could cost you your job. ..."

Good thoughts, and not just for professional pilots!

(cf. "Paid to Say 'No.'" from Business & Commercial Aviation magazine, June 2016 issue, [1], ...) - ^z - 2016-06-25