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How to give pushback to leadership

Giving pushback is a tightrope act. Too callous and you can burn bridges, too lenient and serious risks can slip through the cracks.
January 15, 2025

Estimated reading time: 1 minute

Make your voice heard without burning bridges.

Saying no to leadership is sometimes necessary when you’re at the helm of a project. Whether they’re proposing a timeline that can’t be achieved, or asking for something that’s technologically impossible, adopting the word “no” into your regular vocabulary is your responsibility as an engineer. 

But, pushing back against leadership has high stakes. Doing it well can actually build your leadership team’s trust in you, even though you’re telling them something they don’t want to hear.

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