Complain Without Complaining

There are many problems that need to be fixed

There are wasteful practices that need to be nixed

There are flawed processes needing correction

There are many areas of imperfection

That I can point out, I can propose

Solutions to improve all those..

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But if I try to get my point across

I sound like I’m complaining, I am at a loss

Regarding how to reframe my constructive criticism such

That it does not sound like criticism very much

I just want to improve the workflow without

Pointing fingers at anyone or singling them out

More often than not, someone gets offended anyway

By taking as a personal affront what I have to say

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If I am too cautious in my word choice

My point gets diluted, and my voice

Gets drowned out by other, louder ones

What I want to accomplish never gets done

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The end result is that I do not challenge the status quo

I vent my frustration, then learn to go with the flow

Once in a while I get an opportunity rare

To express my opinion and publicly share

What I want to change, why, and how

I seize upon these opportunities to allow

My (constructive) suggestions to be heard

Without trying to sugarcoat my words