3 Ways to Get Your Voice Heard When You Feel No One is Listening

How many times have you brought a list of ideas to a meeting only to kick yourself afterward for not speaking up? Have you looked back on a social gathering and realized you hardly got a word in? Have you scared yourself sick over a networking event, fearing no one would want to hear about who you are or what you do?

You might be a culprit of all of the above. Rest assured, you’re not the only one. Researchers estimate that 16-50 percent of people are introverts. 

Even if you are more outgoing and can speak up in meetings, maybe you've noticed your ideas aren't coming across effectively. What can you do to ensure that your powerful message doesn't fall on deaf ears?

Whether you're naturally quiet or outspoken, you have a voice and it deserves to be heard. The three tips below offer practices you can start using today to make your voice loud and clear, leaving people hanging on your every word.

1. Speak up Early
You strategize and wait for your perfect opportunity to make your point. Suddenly, the extroverts are taking control over the direction of the conversation. 

To avoid this from happening, implement the following strategies:

Challenge yourself. Voice your ideas in the first few minutes of a meeting or conversation. When you speak up while the vibe of the meeting is being set, you establish yourself as a strong participant.Get yourself on the agenda. When you have an important matter to discuss, talk to the meeting organizer about securing allotted time on the agenda. This gives you solo speaking time that you don't have to fight for.Volunteer to represent a project. For example, if you are part of a smaller group assigned to a task, volunteer to be the speaking representative at your department meeting. This forces you to speak more and get comfortable with making your voice heard.

2. Speak With a Plan
Doing your homework pays off in both work and social situations. Consider the following strategies to make you feel more confident in speaking:

Prepare to speak spontaneously. Go to meetings armed with notes and comments. This prep allows you to move the conversation forward. Women specifically often struggle to get their voices heard, and preparation can make speaking up easier.Have questions ready. You might not always have specific ideas, but a thought-provoking question can bring your voice out just as well.Link to what others say. From your list of comments and questions, see where you can piggyback off what another person is saying. How can you add a different angle? 

3. Speak With Conviction
A common communication mistake among women is simply in the powerlessness of our word choices. To speak more effectively, try the following strategies:

Drop the disclaimers. For example, refrain from introducing your opinions with phrases such as “I think” or “I’m sorry to be difficult.” Habitually using disclaimers causes people to devalue or overlook your thoughts.Take pauses. Women's leadership expert Tara Mohr says pausing for a breath and speaking at a slower pace conveys a sense of confidence and authority.Be straightforward. Clear, short sentences are more effective than rambling.

Each one of us has a voice that deserves to be heard. Speak up early, speak with a plan and speak with conviction to ensure that people hear your powerful message.



 

 

 

 

 

Sarah Landrum is the founder of Punched Clocks, a site dedicated tosharing advice on all things career. Follow her on Twitter@SarahLandrum for more great tips!