"Speak up more."
It's one of the most common pieces of career advice.
And one of the least helpful on its own.
Because the challenge usually isn't that you have nothing to add.
It's that, in the moment, you're wondering:
Is this obvious?
Is this relevant?
Am I interrupting?
What if I'm wrong?
I know that hesitation well.
Earlier in my career, I often had something to say but would overthink whether it was worth saying, and by the time I decided to speak, the moment had passed.
Over time, I learned that speaking up didn't require having the perfect point.
It could be asking a good question.
Clarifying something that wasn't clear.
Building on someone else's idea.
Raising a concern.
Offering a different perspective.
A few phrases and cues helped make that easier for me:
1. When I had a question
"Can I ask a question to make sure I'm understanding this correctly?"
2. When something wasn't clear
"Can we go back to that point for a second?"
3. When I had an idea
"One suggestion I have is..."
4. When I wanted to build on someone's point
"I appreciate this suggestion and I'd add..."
5. When I disagreed
"I see it a little differently. From my perspective..."
6. When I saw a risk
"One thing I think we should be mindful of is..."
7. When I wanted to move the conversation forward
"Based on what we've discussed, here's what I think makes sense as a next step..."
Speaking up isn't about talking the most.
It's about contributing when you have something useful to add.
What's one tip that's helped you get more comfortable speaking up in meetings?
