You’re struggling to make your voice heard in meetings. How can you make yourself more assertive?

Understand the unique qualities and expertise you bring to the table. Reflect on your accomplishments and contributions. This self-awareness forms the foundation of assertiveness.Reflect on your accomplishments with pride. Acknowledge the challenges you've overcome and the positive impact you've had on projects or initiatives. Actively seek feedback from colleagues, supervisors, or mentors. Understanding how others perceive your contributions can provide valuable insights into your strengths.

Understanding your values and how to improve them so that others can see and value them as well is the first step towards having your voice heard. Make a personal SWOT analysis and work on it consistently. Don't forget to highlight your strengths to get more recognition.

Get genuinely interested in the topic or the project. Fully understand the topic. Ask genuine questions to understand other people's inputs. Show your understanding and appreciation of other's expertise. Then put your perspectives as additional perspectives or alternate views - without any attachment to your perspective. Give complete logic and background data but not get positional about it. Focus on the bigger intention and process everything from that context instead of getting attached to a particular opinion.

To become more assertive in meetings, prepare points beforehand, use confident body language, speak early, employ assertive language ("I suggest," "In my experience"), actively listen, politely assert your speaking turn, anticipate objections, seek support from others, build confidence gradually, and reflect on successful instances to refine your approach. Balancing confidence with respect for others' views fosters assertiveness without dominance.

Use confident body language: Maintain good posture, eye contact, and a clear voice. Project an aura of confidence and expertise. Frame your contributions as solutions: Don't just highlight problems; propose solutions backed by data and evidence. Be specific and actionable. Ask insightful questions: Don't be afraid to challenge assumptions or ask questions that spark deeper discussion. This demonstrates your critical thinking and engagement. Actively listen and build on others' ideas: Pay attention to others' points, acknowledge them, and build upon them to show collaboration and add value. Know when to push back: If you disagree with something, do so respectfully but firmly. Offer alternative perspectives with data to support your position.

Mastery is born from meticulous preparation. Dive deep into the subject matter, anticipate questions, and rehearse your key points. Confidence flourishes when you're well-prepared

Any meeting's value is greatly increased by careful planning. To ensure a smooth meeting flow, provide a clear and succinct plan or outline. This will improve the meeting's overall purpose. You will give better presentations in meetings if you practise the tone, timings, and sequences.

Anil's PRACTICAL PRACTICING PLATFORMS Repetition & repetition is the only way to move from learning to being good, being better to excellence. Practise, practise & practise... No shortcut. This is one area where the business & management world lacks. We are indifferent to this great concept. In fact, business organisations have never even thought of using this tool to hone the skills of their team members. To move towards perfection & to improve performance everywhere we find use of practise. I feel that we mistake practise with experience. During off-the-job practise we can experiment, rework, rethink, redo, record, take help of a confidant without the risk factor. Let us create practice arenas to hone our & our team members skills.

Before meetings, thoroughly prepare for discussions. Anticipate potential questions or objections, and be well-versed in your subject matter. This preparation boosts confidence, making it easier to assert your opinions. In a strategy meeting with a client, our consultant prepared extensively for a proposed market entry plan. Armed with thorough research and insights, they confidently presented the plan, addressing potential concerns. This not only showcased expertise but also increased assertiveness.

-Preparation: Before the meeting, prepare your points. This helps build confidence in what you want to say. -Setting Small Goals: Start by setting small, achievable goals for yourself, like making one or two comments per meeting. -Body Language: Practice assertive body language. Sit up straight, make eye contact, and nod to show engagement.

In a meeting, speaking and listening are two abilities that should be given careful thought. Both will lose value if done excessively. Therefore, it's critical to understand when and how to speak up and ask for a chance. It is equally important to listen in order to have insightful and meaningful talks.

Assertiveness is not about overpowering others but striking a balance between expressing your ideas and actively listening to others. Embrace a collaborative approach, fostering a more inclusive and productive dialogue.

Actively listen to others and make an effort to understand their perspectives. When you respond, acknowledge their points before presenting your own. This not only shows respect but also makes it more likely that others will reciprocate when it's your turn to speak.

BUILDING ORGANIZATIONS BY "SIMPLY TALKING" Let us not do any Discussions, Debates, Arguments, Meetings, Email fights... Let us "Simply talk..." This is a very important requirement in organizations today. A small shift helps in changing the organization culture from exclusive to inclusive. It all starts from the top. Did the MD, the Owner or Head of the Organization "simply talk" to the Associates today? This will change the culture of the organisation... Think over it. The time spent on "simply talking" to each other will save a lot of the Organization time improving quality and speed of communication. Mis-communication is the biggest Organization time waster. Eliminate confusions by improving communication by "simply talking".

You need to speak and express your thoughts clearly and directly. Avoid excessive qualifiers or apologetic language. Be concise and articulate, ensuring your message is easily understood. In a project review meeting, as a consultant, you need to provide clear and direct recommendations, avoiding unnecessary qualifiers. This straightforward communication style conveys assertiveness and clarity in conveying project status and future actions.

Challenges are inevitable. Learn to navigate them with grace. Address disagreements diplomatically, turning potential conflicts into opportunities for constructive discussion. This showcases your ability to handle adversity.

Any meeting will inevitably involve difficulties and misunderstandings. How skillfully you manage the same is where the true talent is found. The gathering elevates to a higher level and the forum remains composed when the participants maintain their elegance and dignity in the face of divergent opinions.

Your impact extends beyond the meeting room. Follow up on key points discussed, reinforcing your commitment and dedication. This not only solidifies your contributions but also demonstrates a proactive and engaged approach.

Without follow-ups, no meeting is ever complete. Any meeting can be effective if you ask your audience what they comprehended and continuously track their progress towards the agenda items. This may seem like a little and insignificant step, but it's actually the key to understanding everything that has happened.

-Seek Feedback: After the meeting, ask a trusted colleague for feedback on your contribution. -Reflect: After the meeting, reflect on what went well and what could be improved next time.

Try getting facetime (via 1:1 meetings) with the key players before the meeting, where you test your insights/suggestions/thought with up front. Another suggestion if you have the opportunity , share your thoughts up front with a pre-read document/memo/ppt. It shows you care and you are invested in the topic.

To show assertiveness in meetings, start by cultivating self-confidence. Prioritize preparation, ensure a solid understanding of the agenda and relevant points. Practice clear and concise communication, avoid unnecessary qualifiers. Employ assertive body language, maintain eye contact and adopt an open posture. Actively listen to others, acknowledge their perspectives while reinforcing your own. Don't shy away from constructive disagreement, articulating dissent diplomatically. Set boundaries and assertively communicate needs. Regularly seek feedback to refine communication style. Gradually integrating these strategies will empower you to assertively articulate your thoughts and contribute meaningfully in meetings.

Assertiveness, like any other skill, is something that gets better with practice, so don’t be too hard on yourself as you’re learning and improving.