Firefighter cadets learn that the bravest people on a crew are the ones who say “stop” when something’s off.

In a group doing something hard, momentum makes stopping the expensive move, because whoever calls a halt holds everyone up and might turn out to be wrong. That is why it takes more nerve than pressing on does. People trained around real danger protect that voice on purpose, since the alternative is a crew that only ever accelerates. Calling a stop is not the opposite of brave, it is a harder form of it.

If something feels off this week, say so early and plainly, before the plan builds speed. You are allowed to be wrong out loud. That is cheaper than everybody staying quiet.