Now and then, at work, we’ll have a CEO on from the megacorp that owns the company I work at. It's a Zoom meeting with like 300 people, the guy is usually giving a speech that is harmless and nice (if a bit banal), and I’ll turn on my camera and ask a question about something that I feel is not going well.

Invariably, within 10 minutes, I receive messages from coworkers congratulating me on my boldness. You asked him? That question? So brave!

This is always a little strange to me. Of course I feel free to question the CEO!

What really makes me nervous is asking cutting questions to people newer to the company than me, who have less experience, and less position. If I screw up how I ask them a question, and am a little too thoughtless or rude, or imagine I was, I agonize [...]

---

First published:
March 30th, 2025

Source:
https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/swi36QeeZEKPzYA2L/how-i-talk-to-those-above-me

---

Narrated by TYPE III AUDIO.

“How I talk to those above me” by Maxwell Peterson 12:58 Share

LessWrong (30+ Karma)

Shownotes Transcript

“How I talk to those above me” by Maxwell Peterson