Pep Guardiola, the Catalan football coach, could be described as outspoken.
That’s to say he’s never been afraid to express his beliefs or opinions. Especially when they may be controversial or unpopular with some.
Last week Pep was given an honorary degree from the University of Manchester. He was being recognised for his contribution to the city over his nine years there.
Upon accepting the degree he chose to speak out:
“It’s so painful what we see in Gaza. It hurts all my body,” said Guardiola.
“Let me be clear — it’s not about ideology. It’s not about I’m right and you’re wrong. Come on, it’s just about the love of life. About the care of your neighbour. Maybe we think that we can see the boys and girls of four years old being killed with a bomb or being killed at the hospital — which is not a hospital anymore — and think it’s not our business. Yeah, fine. We can think about that. It’s not our business, but be careful. The next one will be ours. The next four-, five-year-old kids will be ours. Sorry that I see my kids Maria, Marius and Valentina every morning since the nightmare started in Gaza, and I’m so scared.”
“Maybe this image feels far away from where we are living now, and you might ask what we can do,” he added.
“There’s a story I’m reminded of. A forest is on fire. All the animals live terrified, helpless. But the small bird flies back and forth to the sea, back and forth carrying drops of water in this little beak.“A snake laughs and asks, ‘Why bro? You will never put the fire out.’ The poor bird replies, ‘Yes, I know’. ‘Then why do you do it again and again?’, the snake asks once again. ‘I’m just doing my part’, the bird replies for the last time.
“The bird knows that he won’t stop the fire but it refused to do nothing. In a world that often tells us that we are too small to make a difference, that story reminds me that the power of one is not about the scale, it’s about choice. About showing up, about refusing to be silent or still when it matters most.”
Next time you refuse to be silent, remember that you are speaking out.
“The bird knows that he won’t stop the fire, but it refused to do nothing”
This week’s three tips:
SOMETHING TO AVOID 🫣
🤦🏻♀️ “I will speak out over this!”
You don’t speak out over something.
Speak over exists, but it means to interrupt or talk louder than another person so they can finish what they are saying. It is to speak over someone not something.
He always speaks over his colleagues in meetings.
✅ “I will speak out against this!”
You would speak out against something or about something.
She spoke out about workplace discrimination.
He spoke out against corruption in the government.
SOMETHING TO SOUND CONFIDENT 🧐
👔 Business expressions
“To voice your concern”
To express your thoughts, worries, or point of view in a clear and respectful way, especially in a professional or formal setting.
Several employees voiced concerns about the new policy.
SOMETHING TO ASK YOURSELF 🤔
NEXT STEP ➡️
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The Crystal Clear English Team
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