Some situations can be incredibly intimidating. You meet a new group of friends and you’re just starting to hang out, you’re a parent navigating the social side of a new school, your coworkers are extremely outspoken or you’re new to the neighborhood. No matter what or why the situation is intimidating, you know deep down you’d like to speak up, but you often feel nervous or shy when normally you’re a pretty outgoing individual. Regardless of why, it happens to all of us at one point or another and breaking the bad habit of sitting back silently rather than saying what’s on your mind is a great goal for moving the needle forward on making strides at work, strengthening new friendships or finding your place in a new social circle. If you’re ready to break the habit and start being heard, read ahead. Here are a few ideas for learning to speak up and making your presence known.
LEARNING TO SPEAK UP
Speak up first. Even though that sounds incredibly intimidating, sometimes when you’re the first to get the conversation started, it’s easier to lead the process and development of an idea. Rather than waiting to piggy back on what someone else has to say, be the initiator and help drive the conversation in the way you’d like it to go. You’ll set the pace for your role as a leader within the group and as a result, people will start looking to you, rather than right past you.
Have confidence in the worth of your ideas. Sometimes all it takes is a little positive reinforcement inside your mind – a healthy nudge to remind yourself that you’re smart and you have great things to contribute. This is especially important at work, when you’re trying to make a name for yourself and express just how much you can bring to the table. Whether it’s new ideas or past experience, have a little faith in yourself – and that will go a long way.
Be inquisitive. Sometimes when it feels too intimidating to be the one to set the tone of an entire conversation, one of the best ways to be heard is to ask some questions. Asking the right questions can often drive a brainstorm or discussion in other ways, resulting in a completely different plan than what was initially suggested.
Remind yourself that you matter too. It can be really easy to get walked all over and left behind when there are a lot of bold personalities in the room. It’s often easier just to stay quiet. But at the end of the day, if you want your idea or voice to be heard, you’re the only one who can make that happen. By simply reminding yourself that your contribution and opinion matter, you’ll be that much closer to getting comfortable with the idea of speaking up.
Do you have a tough time speaking up in certain situations? How do you navigate new social circles or intimidating meetings at work?
