---
title: "8 Questions to Ask Before Speaking Out"
id: "49984"
type: "post"
slug: "8-questions-to-ask-before-speaking-out"
published_at: "2020-04-20T11:20:39+00:00"
modified_at: "2026-03-17T03:22:12+00:00"
url: "https://associationsnow.com/2020/04/20/8-questions-to-ask-before-speaking-out/"
markdown_url: "https://associationsnow.com/2020/04/20/8-questions-to-ask-before-speaking-out.md"
excerpt: "Is now the time to speak up or stay quiet? Amy Showalter, principal of the Showalter Group, Inc., guides association leaders through questions that can help them decide if the timing is right to take on a new issue. Here..."
taxonomy_category:
  - "Governance"
taxonomy_post_tag:
  - "advice"
  - "AssociationsNow"
  - "Communications"
  - "Leadership"
  - "public speaking"
taxonomy_content_format:
  - "Article"
taxonomy_role:
  - "Association CEO / Executive Director"
  - "C-Level"
  - "Executive Team"
  - "VP"
taxonomy_persona:
  - "Executive Leadership"
---

[Home](https://associationsnow.com/)
 » [Articles](https://associationsnow.com/format/article/)
 » 8 Questions to Ask Before Speaking Out

### By Tim Ebner

- [Mail (opens in a new tab)](mailto:tebner@asaecenter.org)

Tim Ebner is a senior editor for Associations Now. He covers membership, leadership, and governance issues. Email him with story ideas or news tips. [MORE](/author/timebner)

Got an article tip for us? [Contact us](https://associationsnow.com/contact-us/%20)
 and let us know!

[Tim Ebner](https://associationsnow.com/author/tim-ebner/)

Tim Ebner is communications director and press secretary at the American Forest & Paper Association in Washington, DC. He is a member of ASAE’s Communication Professionals Advisory Council and a former Associations Now senior editor.

[More articles by this author](https://associationsnow.com/author/tim-ebner/)

Tags: [#advice](https://associationsnow.com/tag/advice/)
 [#Communications](https://associationsnow.com/tag/communications/)
 [#Leadership](https://associationsnow.com/tag/leadership/)
 [#public speaking](https://associationsnow.com/tag/public-speaking/)

**Stay Informed**

[Subscribe to our free newsletter](https://associationsnow.com/newsletter/)
, *Associations Now Daily News*, to find out what’s happening in the association world every business day.

## You Might Like

- [VideoMichelle Poler Previews Her Keynote for ASAE’s The Exchange!April 30, 2025](https://associationsnow.com/2025/04/30/michelle-poler-previews-her-keynote-for-asaes-the-exchange/)
- [PodcastAssociations NOW Presents: Leading Together-Strengthening the Board-CSO PartnershipDecember 18, 2025](https://associationsnow.com/2025/12/18/associations-now-presents-leading-together-strengthening-the-board-cso-partnership/)
- [VideoSmarter Board Management for Associations: An OnBoard ShowcaseJuly 24, 2026](https://associationsnow.com/2026/07/24/smarter-board-management-for-associations-an-onboard-showcase/)
- [Video2025 Summit Award Recipient: American Speech-Language-Hearing AssociationOctober 3, 2025](https://associationsnow.com/2025/10/03/2025-summit-award-recipient-american-speech-language-hearing-association/)

## Comments

**Comments are for ASAE members.** [Learn more about comments on this site.](https://associationsnow.com/comments/)

[Log in](https://associationsnow.com/login?redirect_to=https%3A%2F%2Fassociationsnow.com%2F2020%2F04%2F20%2F8-questions-to-ask-before-speaking-out%2F%23comments)
 to your member account or [join ASAE](https://my.asaecenter.org/select-a-membership-type/)
!