For any organization to thrive, employees need to be able to question how things are done and express dissent. But no one wants to hear grievances. If you have an opinion to share, do it carefully:
Choose your audience. Your boss may not be able to remedy your situation. Express your ideas to someone who can actually do something about the problem.
Propose a solution. Rather than simply voicing a complaint or spotlighting a problem, try presenting a way to resolve it. This makes it more difficult for others to dismiss you as a grumbler. And it saves your audience the effort of solving it themselves.
Use direct factual appeals. You may feel passionately about the issues, but your colleagues are more likely to listen when you express yourself rationally and have evidence to back up your claims.
Source: Today's Management Tip was adapted from "How to Communicate Dissent at Work" by Johny T. Garner.