How to Speak Up & Be Heard
Jodi Glickman
CEO & Founder, Keynote Speaker, Harvard Biz Writer, LinkedIn Learning Instructor, Entrepreneur, TEDx'r, Author
Welcome to my weekly newsletter!?I am SO glad (flattered, honored, the whole deal) you’re here to start this journey with me.?Each week I’m going to do my very best to come to you with powerful content designed to help you Level Up in 2022.?Whether you’re looking to gain more visibility, tackle a meaningful challenge, transition into a new role — I’ll share my best thinking around how to achieve your goals and amplify your impact at work (and on the world around you!)?Take what works, let me know what doesn’t, ask questions, share stories, push back (nicely puh-lease, let’s be kind to each other)—this if for YOU.?Let’s roll…
* * * * * * * * * *
Last week, I wrote about why you need to speak up more.?This week, I’ll talk about how to actually do it.?
We’ve all been there—sitting in a meeting, thinking of something to say, and then talking ourselves out of piping up or weighing in.?We second guess.?We back pedal.?We talk ourselves out of speaking up because we’re not 100% certain that what we’re saying is actually, well, right.
Speaking up isn’t about being “right,” it’s about having a voice.?
Having an opinion or a perspective.?Asking a question that pushes the conversation forward, or in a new or different direction.?And sometimes simply, gaining clarity so that you can contribute as the conversation continues.
Once we shift our goal from being right, to having a voice, then we can start to build our confidence and build our skillset.?This is about reps.?This is about getting comfortable speaking up so that others start to hear our voices regularly.??
Next time you find yourself beginning to spiral down that dangerous internal dialogue of “Should I or shouldn’t I?”, here are five strategies to help you speak up instead of shut down:
1. Follow Your Curiosity: A good way to start hearing your own voice without drawing a hard line in the sand is to ask yourself: what are you curious about??What do you wonder? Ask a question that’s on your mind and see where the conversation goes.?Maybe everyone at the table was wondering the same thing, and you were the only one willing to raise the issue or ask the question:
Speaking up and framing a question in a smart way can be invaluable.
?2. Build on a Point: One of the easier ways into a conversation is to build on someone’s else’s point.?Take it as your entry to echo an idea, add to an idea, build on someone else’s idea, or even challenge an idea.??Originality isn’t everything.?Equally powerful at work is the idea of scaffolding.?Ladder up the conversation and build it upwards, outwards, or even sideways:
3. Zoom In, Zoom Out, Zag: I am a big picture thinker by nature.?I live at 30,000 feet. Details bore me and are definitely not my strength.?Often times I find myself in meetings zooming out, by habit—because that’s where my brain tends to go.?For me, it’s natural to say something like:
Let’s take a step back and look at the big picture; or
领英推荐
On the other hand, there are always people in the room who are far better with details than me. They naturally drill down, go into the weeds, bring up items or issues I haven’t thought of (or don’t want to deal with).?Drilling down and zooming in sounds like this:
And finally, sometimes it’s not about zooming in or out, but zagging. Taking a different tack.?Analyzing a different angle.?Offering a different perspective or challenging the status quo:
?4. Have a Point of View
Walk in (or on) to meetings prepared. Do your homework.?Know who the players are and what the goal of the meeting is.?Be ready to share your perspective on the topic at hand.?Have a point of view. ?Know what you think about how the numbers are trending, why the podcast isn’t landing with listeners, or where you think senior leadership’s efforts should be focused next. Know where you stand so you can take a stand:
?5. Ask for Clarification
No one knows everything. ?Don’t hold yourself to such an unreasonable standard. If you find yourself not tracking, don’t waste the rest of the meeting playing catch up. ?Have the confidence to jump in and ask for clarification. ??Not in the “what the heck is going on here, I’m totally lost?” way (you wouldn’t do that, right?), but in a pointed, direct way:
?* * * * * * *
Which strategies resonate with you??What feels natural and easy to implement? Is anything too big of a stretch??Up for a challenge? Watch my quick video HERE and put your skills to the test this week…and then let us know how it goes HERE .
?Stay tuned next week for Speaking up on Zoom.
?Thanks for being part of my journey, wishing you tons of success on yours!
jodi
--
2 年Jodi, Thank you very much for these wealth of information and the invite. All the best in 2022. I hope to incorporate what has been shared and looking forward to your continuous newsletters
Executive Construction & Engineering Recruiter 559.779.1617
2 年Great information. I noticed as I was reading it, I could actually hear your voice and see your gestures! That's good, right?? lol I have been known to sit back quietly in meetings and get so caught up in trying to engage... that I don't. I'm a work in progress. And I believe it has so much to do with confidence. Thanks for your valuable information and boost in my day. Happy 2022!
Development Consulting
2 年Great read on something that I think speaks to a lot of people. Thank you, Jodi!
MBA Candidate | Seguros | Reaseguros | Finanzas | Gestión | Property & Casualty |Life & Health
2 年Nice article Jodi, it makes people feel empower to speak up!
Principal at Barry G. Mogil, Business & Law Counselor
2 年Thank you, Jodi, for making me aware of your newsletter. If I don't have time availability to review now, may I access it later? If so, how? Wishing Happy, Blessed 2022 & long future! Emet! Barry (Chicago)