Be careful of expressing opinions
You should refrain from expressing opinions in the workplace or any environment where your identity could impact your life. The simple reason is that your opinions will inevitably become part of your identity, whether you want them to or not. People, especially in workplaces, universities, colleges, and communities, often gravitate toward groupthink. While they may tolerate contrasting opinions, it’s only to the extent that those opinions don’t unsettle or "offend" them. Groupthink thrives on similar thinking, which often requires similar identities and avoids anything too dramatically different.
Your opinions reflect your thinking. Your thinking defines what you identify with. While the truth of this can be debated, it is how the world perceives you. People don’t have the time or resources to separate your thoughts from your core identity—they see them as one and the same. Therefore, when you express opinions without realizing that you're exposing your identity to a group that isn’t ready or willing to accept it, you risk setting yourself up for disappointment.
On social media, for instance, many anonymous accounts face backlash for posting "offensive" content. They aren’t physically harming anyone but challenge people's perceptions through their arguments. The reasonable response to such content would be either to ignore it or present a counter-argument if you believe your stance has merit. However, what often happens instead is that the mob pressures these accounts to reveal their identity. Why does this occur? It’s so their employers or business heads can be tagged, potentially leading to the individual losing their job. In essence, livelihoods are targeted because of opinions that clash with others.
If the stakes are so high, what makes you think your opinion would be treated differently? Even among a more mature crowd, your opinions will still be associated with your identity because, for most people, that is the only way they can understand you—through your words and thoughts.
You have two choices: complain about this reality or use it to your advantage. You can reverse-engineer the situation by expressing opinions that align with the identity you want others to associate with you. Regardless of your actual political or societal beliefs, you can voice the opposite to fit into the group. Being part of the group comes with its own benefits, such as access to better information, networking opportunities, good references for promotions, and more.
If you’re a business owner, you may have more freedom unless your opinions directly impact your business. In such cases, it’s wise to stick to sharing motivational quotes, philanthropic activities, or politically correct statements online.
At first glance, this advice might seem highly manipulative, but it is, in fact, a survival mechanism. Your private opinions and public actions don’t have to align. If you believe you can express your true opinions without consequences, feel free to do so. However, this also carries the risk of being labeled a hypocrite if the opinions you express within a small, select group clash with those of a larger group. In such scenarios, you may find it difficult to protect yourself. A more strategic approach is to appear as though you’re expressing your own opinions while actually mirroring theirs.
Freedom of speech is valuable, but it pales in comparison to the importance of job security. Putting food on the table is far more crucial than airing opinions among a group. It’s better to play it safe than risk being perceived as eccentric. You can freely express yourself when your livelihood no longer depends on someone’s call to the HR department.