The answer is yes.
If people have conflicting opinions and viewpoints it is likely that an issue is complex or simply just complex enough to warrant additional thought. Not exploring that thinking will often lead to worse outcomes than delving deeper.
It is for this reason that we need to invite diverse and conflicting opinions.
At the moment Sunette Viljoen, our Olympic silver medal javelin thrower, is asking SASCOC where the R70 million Lotto funding went, as in her opinion it didn’t go to the athletes who were issued with tracksuits that were not even tailored to size.
Let’s assume for a minute that Sunette had decided not to ask this question; how would that benefit any of our clearly amazing athletes, or SASCOC’s accountability to the South African public.
How would her keeping quiet benefit South Africa at all?
As we all know, the opposite of keeping quiet is speaking up.
The Olympics are over, we return to a building phase for the next big games, Olympic, World Championships, or otherwise, but how does speaking up benefit not only Sunette, but SASCOC, our athletes and our country as a whole?
Do you think it will be plain sailing for all? I don’t, but if they can manage the conflict to a positive outcome we are all winners. Thank you Sunette.
© Debbie Engelbrecht
Debbie is the CEO of Staff Training, a soft skills training company offering more than 60 short courses including a suite of management and leadership options. Find out more here.