Episode 3: How do you respond to a call-out? With the Owls (Part 3)
Communication is powerful. So let’s talk about it!
The Owls talk about what they learned from the previous two episodes on the call-out culture and give advice about surviving it.
JOZA: Hello this is Give A Hoot!
OYA: I’m Oya
JOZA: I’m Joza
MIKA: And I’m Mika
OYA: We are WiseOwl.
MIKA: WiseOwl is a consultancy firm that specializes in communication for social change.
MIKA: In our conversation with Mae Paner, we learned that: first, the cause you fight for needs to be close to your heart. It has to be your truth. And you have to believe in it.
JOZA: Important na mag-open ng ganitong conversations, kahit na minsan may conflict, at least nag-uusap tayo kesa naman puro sigawan at nagkanya-kanya lang. Mahalaga na may platform for meaningful conversations.
OYA: In terms of execution, we also learned the importance ng timing, coordainting if you’re working with a group. And also, to choose a format that can be easily to replicated by others so that it spreads and the impact is greater.
MIKA: Yung kay Nash Tysmans naman na episode, she talked about the need for accountability. Hindi lang yung kinocall-out pero pati yung nag-cacall-out. Lahat tayo may responsibilidad.
JOZA: Sinabi din niya na dapat isipin kung yung call-out ba sa social media yung tamang approach or may iba pa bang mas tamang paraan.
OYA: Yes, your behavior online must also be reflected offline. We learned that from her. Mas constructive rather than just unproductive ranting.
JOZA: So what if na-call out ka na? How do you survive?
MIKA: The first thing that we think is important from what we’ve heard from Mae and from Nash is mahalaga talagang makinig. Now sometimes we get distracted when we see someone call us out kasi sometimes the call out is in the tone of anger and so therefore we react with anger. Pero minsan kailangan talaga nating makita, ano ba talaga ‘yung sinasabi? What’s the underlying message that they’re trying tell us when they’re calling us out? Let’s listen to the call-out first, before we even react.
OYA: And then when reacting it’s important, if you believe there is a valid point that they’re making, tell the truth and tell it all and tell it fast. That way you clear the air immediately. Also, I think we learned that full accountability is important in the call-out culture.
JOZA: And by saying full accountability you mean be honest, dapat aminin na nila na nagkamali sila. Be authentic, so you have to mean what you’re saying.
MIKA: Right, and ‘yun nga, kung kunwari alam mo na na may mali kang ginawa, you need to overdo your apology. You have to be very generous. I think one of the things that we’ve seen in recent years na well done would be what Starbucks did in the United States where… meron kasing two black men that were apprehended by the police kasi ni-report sila nung isang Starbucks manager. And what happened is immediately the CEO said sorry on national television. Booked a plane. Went to where the men were. Apologized to them, personally. And then closed down Starbucks across all of United States para magkaroon sila ng cultural training. Hindi na lumala ‘yung problema after they got called out kasi people thought na okay, here’s a company na was very sincere, very generous in what they’re doing.
JOZA: But wait, lahat ng ‘to nangyari because they got called out. Pero what if hindi ka pa nako-call-out? Ano ‘yung preventive measures?
OYA: Ideally, good behaviour should be an integral part of your brand from the start. You have to be very, very clear about what you stand for, what your values are. And also I think it important to have, within your organization, wherever you are, to have a diverse team. To make your organization a space where people can safely call each other out, before things even come out of that organization.
MIKA: Right, so it’s very important to have those kinds of conversations, safe conversations, within the organization, and then even outside the organization, to make sure na nakikipag-usap pa rin tayo sa mga tao, and not just to ourselves. One sure way to kind of really prevent this is to actually be open and to encourage dialogue with people.
OYA: And it’s a good preventive measure because you have a diverse team and you’re free to call each other out. Naka-catch niyo na if you’re doing things that might be offensive when you take that message out there.
JOZA: So mga kuwago, when it comes to call-outs, we must listen.
MIKA: We should be hones
OYA: And we must be responsive.
MIKA: Thanks for listening to our third episode, and thanks to the people who made this possible, specifically PumaPodcast, the Spark Project, and our backers. Shoutout to Carl Javier, our producer, and Mark — our sound guy.
OYA: You’ve been listening to Give a Hoot. I’m Oya.
JOZA: I’m Joza.
MIKA: And I’m Mika.
OYA: Look for WiseOwl PH on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, Medium. You can visit our website wiseowl.ph. We’d love to hear from you. Send your feedback to hoot@wiseowl.ph.
JOZA: Use your voice. Give a Hoot.
