Written by: Henry Gwani on December 4, 2022

Speaking Truth to Power argues about the importance of upholding the truth in any society. Written by James O’Toole, a professor of business and respected author, the whitepaper calls us to first, like a whistle-blower, lead change by fearlessly speaking up in promotion of the truth.

This reminds me of the courageous stand taken by Desmond Tutu in confronting the Apartheid government of South Africa during the days before democracy. Indeed Tutu, in the spirit of Martin Luther King Jr, Mahatma Gandhi and several others risked life and limb for the sake of truth; and by doing so call us all to live for ideals much bigger than us. This is the stuff leaders are made of. In other words, it is not enough to be courageous. On the contrary, true courage must find expression, even if it impacts on the powers that be. This is no easy task. There is a significant risk, as O’Toole points out in the example of the culture of fear within several globally respected companies such as GE during the days of Jack Welch. O’Toole notes that

According to former employees, Welch conducts meetings so aggressively that people tremble. He attacks almost physically with his intellect-criticizing, demeaning, ridiculing, humiliating.” One humiliated former GE-executive who had been publicly dressed down by Welch for daring to question his boss admitted to the moderator of an Aspen Institute seminar in the early 1990s that Welch’s furious tirade “caused me to soil my pants.”[1]

The fact that this scene occurred within a culture regarded as an egalitarian one says much about what happens within more hierarchical settings. Yet, perhaps, speaking truth to power is more needed in these types of settings where most people simply tow the line. Within my context, where authoritarian leadership is prevalent, one factor that seems to hinder speaking truth to power is the inferiority complex that poverty fosters among the poor. This leaves the impression that speaking truth to power implies biting the finger that feeds one. Presumably, many shrink from speaking up, thereby compromising their potential for values-based leadership and for catalysing the kind of change brought about by Tutu and others in the struggle for freedom. The martyrdom of John the Baptist for telling Herod about appropriate marriage practices signifies the risk involved in speaking truth to power. Yet, it is clear that refusing to speak would mean dishonoring God, an option that is worse than being martyred.

But, as it turns out, it is not enough to speak up for truth. Because we all have blind spots, we must also actively invite truth from others in society. Needless to say, this takes humility. O’Toole cites a 1970s situation in FedEx where a lower-level manager challenged his superiors with the observation that O’Toole had made “an interesting point that runs counter to a major decision top management made a couple weeks ago. [Therefore] I suggest we … re-examine that decision now in light of what we have just learned”. [2]To O’Toole’s amazement, “the managers picked up the suggestion and turned directly to a no-holds-barred debate of the issue.” [3]

Jim Collins calls the combination of these two virtues (speaking up for truth and humbly seeking truth from others, including subordinates), the Stockdale Paradox[4]. He explains that this entails an unusual blend of professional will and personal humility. These are qualities I will like to see in my life and in my context.

[1] O’Toole, James. Speaking Truth to Power: A White Paper. (2015). https://www.scu.edu/ethics/focus-areas/business-ethics/resources/speaking-truth-to-power-a-white-paper/

[2] O’Toole, Speaking Truth.

[3] Ibid

[4] Collins, Jim. Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap and Others Don’t. (New York: HarperCollins, 2001), 15.

About the Author

Henry Gwani

Follower of Jesus, husband, father, community development practitioner and student of leadership working among marginalized communities in South Africa

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