The Foreign Service Journal, July-August 2015

THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | JULY-AUGUST 2015 85 Ethics and Professionalism • Continued from page 76 the code, once adopted, will instill a sense of pride in Foreign Service officers and provide a behavioral prototype for professional integrity in the daily work of FSOs. Expert Speakers Forum Most recently, the PEC sponsored a May 20 talk at AFSA headquarters by Terry Newell, “Speaking Truth to Power,” as part of its ongoing Expert Speakers Forum. A retiree with more than 40 years in the federal gov- ernment, and author of the book, To Serve with Honor: Doing the Right Thing in Gov- ernment (see review on page 91), Newell led an engaging two-hour session involving case studies, group discus- sion and practical tips on how to speak out to those in power without losing one’s job. While acknowledging the difficulties inherent in speak- ing truth to power, Newell emphasized that the act can be as simple as presenting alternative solutions that oth- ers may not have considered. It is not always necessary or even effective to issue ultima- tums or threaten resignation. Practical strategies entail striving to understand the point of view of all involved in a morally questionable situation, seeking advice from multiple sources, preparing for all potential rationaliza- tions, being willing to com- promise and planning for the next steps if the dissent is successful. Encourage Debate and Dissent Newell urged those in posi- tions of leadership to encour- age debate and dissenting opinions among their staff. To that end, he suggested restructuring meetings, creat- ing clear channels for dissent and reserving opinions until hearing from employees first. Newell then opened the floor to a lively discussion of the pitfalls of self-censorship and how to deal with compet- ing points of view on what is ethical. One seasoned Foreign Service officer encouraged younger audience members to use tools such as survey data to support their cause. The PEC established the Expert Speakers Forum“to bring experts on professional- ism and leadership, ethics, government effectiveness, and the diplomatic art and practice to AFSAmembers.” By providing insight into the many different strategies available for speaking truth to power, Newell left the audience better equipped to handle ethical quandaries in the Foreign Service work- place. The PEC would like to hear from you. Please contact AFSA Professional Issues and Policy Adviser JaniceWeiner at weiner@afsa.org. n —Shannon Mizzi, Editorial Intern