When Your Conservation Views Don’t Align: Why It’s OK to Speak Up—and How to Do It Thoughtfully

If you work in conservation, there’s a good chance you’ve had moments where your internal compass pointed in a slightly different direction than the organization you work for.

Maybe it was an op-ed you didn’t post. A conversation you avoided. A policy position you silently disagreed with.

You believe in the mission. You respect your colleagues. But when it comes to a specific issue—be it predator management, Indigenous rights, extractive industries, or even tone—you hesitate to share your thoughts because they don’t perfectly align with your organization’s stance.

I’ve been there too.

Silenced in plain sight—the quiet pressure to conform within organizational culture.

A Personal Moment of Clarity

I recently shared this with someone I work closely with in the organization, something I’ve been quietly carrying for a while:

That I’ve held back on expressing some of my conservation views publicly—not because I didn’t believe in them, but because I felt a pressure to perfectly align with our organizational messaging. I didn’t want to risk seeming off-message, or worse, disloyal.

What I learned from that exchange was powerful.

My vulnerability was met with respect. Encouragement, even. We talked about how personal viewpoints, when expressed thoughtfully, can add dimension and strength to a collective mission—not detract from it.

That conversation reminded me:

Organizations are made up of people. And movements grow when those people are honest, courageous, and curious.

Why Speaking Up Matters

Conservation is no longer just about species and landscapes—it’s about people, justice, politics, and power. That means disagreement, evolution, and questioning are not only expected—they’re necessary.

When you speak up, you:

• Challenge groupthink and stagnation

• Bring forward lived experience and values

• Encourage reflection within your organization

• Strengthen public trust through authenticity

Silence might feel safer. But it often protects the status quo—and sometimes, the status quo is what needs changing.

The Risk Is Real—and Manageable

It’s natural to worry about what might happen if you voice a divergent view. You might fear being labeled difficult. You may worry about funding, optics, or conflict.

But there’s a way to speak your truth that’s constructive, not combative.

How to Navigate the Tension (Without Burning Bridges)

1. Get Clear on Your Why

Ground yourself in your values. What are you standing for, not just against? Are you motivated by justice? Ecological integrity? Transparency? This clarity will help you communicate from a place of principle—not just frustration.

2. Choose the Right Format

Not every disagreement needs to go public. Sometimes a one-on-one conversation, internal memo, or team meeting is the best place to start. Other times, sharing your personal thoughts on your blog or LinkedIn—clearly labeled as your own—is appropriate.

3. Use Reflective Framing

Start with openness, not opposition:

• “I’ve been reflecting on…”

  
  

• “My perspective has evolved through field experience…”

  
  

• “Here’s how I see this from a slightly different angle…”

This invites dialogue rather than defensiveness.

4. Acknowledge Complexity

Most conservation issues are not black and white. When you acknowledge nuance, trade-offs, or evolving understanding, you model intellectual humility—and that builds credibility.

5. Know Your Edges

Ask yourself: What am I willing to risk? In some cases, speaking out may carry discomfort or professional risk. But in others, staying silent may create more personal dissonance over time. That’s data too.

Leading From Within

You don’t have to be an executive to shape your organization’s culture. Sometimes leadership looks like a thoughtful email, a respectful question, or a quiet challenge to a long-held assumption.

Your presence, perspective, and voice are part of the movement. And movements don’t grow through perfect alignment—they grow through brave honesty.

Final Thought

If you find yourself hesitating to speak your truth, you’re not alone. But don’t mistake silence for professionalism. Sometimes, the most powerful thing you can do for conservation is share the view that only you can see.

Because the future of conservation doesn’t just depend on what we protect.

It depends on how bravely we’re willing to speak.