Being Cut Off

When will I learn?

For generations, women were taught to be seen and not heard. That outdated message may not be so obvious at times but when it does happen, silencing our voices make us question our contributions.

We often preface our opinions with "Sorry," "Excuse me," or "If I may," inadvertently diminishing our authority.

Amplify our voices without an apology!

We know that we deserve to be heard. We know that our contributions are valuable, and yet, recently I?found myself in a position of being cut off.?

The worse part was it was by another woman. I was not about to call her out on it as this would have created an uncomfortable situation.

I stayed quiet and when the event was over, I was annoyed with myself. "Why didn't I say anything." The voice in my head was don't be rude."

?I wasn’t sure at that moment what would have been the right thing to do, but I knew I was not going to apologize for cutting her or saying anything to offend her.? She was the host and CEO who invited me to speak.

The next 24 hours, I did a lot of exploring to gain clarity of what I could have done differently.

Here is what I came up with:

• Wait for a pause: Let the other person finish speaking before you contribute. I could have waited for her to do this and then….
• Assertively claim your space: Instead of a hesitant preface, try: "I'd like to add..." or "I want to finish my thought."

If this resonated with you,?I would love to hear your story and how you handled your own situation.?

Food for Thought ??

This isn't about rudeness; it's about respect – for yourself and your ideas. It's about creating space for your voice to be heard and valued. There was nothing I needed to apologize for, in fact it was the other way around. I was owed the apology!

If or when you find yourself in this situation, even in a casual conversation, wait for the pause, and assertively claim your space.

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