How you are guaranteed to have your say in the meeting

Career trap meeting: Good ideas only have an impact if they are also heard

Do you know this? A controversial topic is being discussed in the meeting, opinions are heated back and forth. Good ideas and goal-oriented proposals are needed now. And what happens? It is precisely those colleagues who always speak loudly anyway that are rushing forward this time with half-baked thoughts and unfinished ideas. And they? Although you certainly have your ideas on these topics, you don't want to just talk out of the blue, wait and see once again and in the end have to find out that the worst solution is implemented. And your considerations – once again – were not even discussed.

How about if you become audible with your thoughts as a clever observer and expert at the right time – effortlessly and effortlessly, even if the battle of loud arguments is raging in the meeting? In this article, you will read how you are guaranteed to have your say in the meeting and how your opinion will be heard.

Frequent speakers and hotheads become decision-makers

Due to solutions that are not expressed in this way, the economy in Germany, Austria and Switzerland loses horrendous resources every day. The supremacy of employees, who behave like "loudspeakers", is responsible for many misguided product development and marketing disasters. Authors such as Silvia Löhken have been writing against the imbalance between "extros" and "intros" for years. Many experiences show that especially in "still waters" particularly interesting thoughts often mature. Unfortunately, these great views are very rarely made public. But the economy and society are already sufficiently equipped with frequent speakers and hotheads. What is urgently needed are reflective, deliberative minds – who speak up confidently!

Dissatisfaction with one's own silence hinders top performance

So now a wrong decision has been made. Such misguided decisions in companies are questionable from a developmental point of view. Even more serious, however, is the slowly growing frustration among those ever-silent employees who leave all meetings feeling they knew better but didn't get a chance to speak. Or rather not having taken the floor. That's a better way to describe it. [bctt tweet="We are all called upon to speak up and not wait for us to be explicitly asked." username="ArnoFischbacher"] This is a basic requirement that an initiative team member should be able to do. Almost all employees know this too, but still do not manage to present their existing expertise courageously and unambiguously.

Not speaking can cost careers

Employees who never succeed in speaking out in a larger group and giving valuable substantive input could pay a high price for their silence in the long term.

• If you are not audible, you will soon no longer be seen and at some point you will be completely overlooked in the perception of others. Also and primarily in the perception of superiors.
• If managers don't have it on their radar, they don't promote them. Despite all the existing, deep expertise. And rightly so, because if you can't or don't want to speak for yourself, you won't do so for your department or for the company.

If you are an employee i.e. you want to remain at your current workplace, and that for years to come, then you are welcome to remain silent. Otherwise, it would be high time to participate in the professional discussions with a strong voice and presence. But why do some people find it so difficult to speak up? Let's take a closer look at some of the most common reasons below.

[bctt tweet="Not speaking can cost careers" username="ArnoFischbacher"]

I'm just a quiet nature

There are quite a few reasons for this. Some see themselves as a quieter personality and like themselves as such. That's why they don't want to change this status so much. With their calm manner, they feel authentic and completely as themselves. That gives them security. They don't want to change that. However, this is a completely misunderstood authenticity. It's not about bending over backwards and stirring up the meetings like a howler monkey, but about presenting your opinion and expertise clearly, distinctly and, of course, authentically as an adult and confident employee.

I've tried, but...

Why do so many employees fail to make themselves heard in larger discussion groups, despite all their good intentions? They want it. But, their attempts to get involved in a discussion at their own volume often fail. These quiet people believe that they themselves have to be even louder in order to drown out the others. This is not the case. Loud sounds only close the ear. The autopilot decides for the person what he wants to pay attention to. Now there is already a heated and loud discussion at a table anyway. And now there is another one who is also loud. This new voice is simply not noticed. As if she had never said anything. So the attempts of the quieter people to try their hand at volume fail miserably. Logically, they then continue to fall silent. So retributing loud with loud is not the right way either ...

Unnecessary filler words prevent attention

When people who have been quiet for a long time then start to say something, they often take refuge in the so-called orientation tone at the beginning of their statement. They then start the speech engine with a hesitant "Um, Ah or smacking Ts – these filler words never sound as if they were followed by an exciting statement worth listening to. And already the attention of the others is gone again, the following request to speak fizzles out .... But what brings the desired attention? We have a very effective repertoire of solutions at our disposal:

[bctt tweet="Filler words like >um< never sound as if they were followed by an exciting statement worth listening to." username="ArnoFischbacher"]

• Attracting attention through the right body language: Since volume doesn't help, you have to attract the attention of your wildly discussing colleagues in other ways – e.g. through very present body language. A good way to do this is the so-called "coachman's seat". Without saying anything else, slide your chair backwards. And sit up straight without leaning against it. In a straight, tense posture, like a coachman in his high seat. And that's exactly how you are suddenly perceived. Sublime, perched higher. There will certainly be a pause now, or the voices will become quieter. And it is precisely this moment that you use to express your opinion. Try it out in the next meeting. You will be surprised!
• Leading by leading tones: The loud tone does not draw attention, but the right and powerful tone does! So lead with leading tones, and you'll get the general attention. They don't need too much or no practice to do so. It is simply a matter of making the mental decision to ask a certain question in such a way that the others in the room automatically follow this call. If you make up your mind to do this before speaking, your voice will automatically follow this impulse. In this way, a maelstrom is created that no one can escape, and the attention is yours! A "But consider .... " in this sound, makes all heads jerk up.
• Use magic words: There are very effective sesame-open-yourself words in communication that immediately make you sit up and take notice. These are, for example, "If .... ", "Yesterday ..." "So ... " or "How ... „. Start your sentences strategically with it and attract attention. A classic and special door opener to be heard is the word "Accepted....". Everyone will immediately be curious about what you will follow as an argument afterwards!

Make a name for yourself as a wise moderator!

If you apply the above suggestions regularly in practice, you will soon be able to lead a meeting from the role of moderator with reflective questions. This allows you to wait longer, listen to others and only express yourself effectively and with impact a little later. In this way, you will distinguish yourself with your teams as a thoughtful and reliable sparring partner who never speaks too fast, but only when he really has something to say. You'll build a long-term reputation that no meeting should ever end without your statement!

From now on, sovereign in all meetings and discussions:

If you don't constantly "talk to it", but express your opinion in a reflective and relaxed way, you will be perceived in discussions and meetings as a person with a self-confident appearance, clear sovereignty and a high level of knowledge. For employees and supervisors alike. This is said to have never harmed his career!

Yours sincerely,

Arno Fischbacher

 

P.S.: I'm happy if you like this post. If that's the case, please share it right away! Do you have a question or would you like to discuss my thoughts with me? Write a comment! I look forward to hearing your opinion!

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Read Also:

• In a meeting: What voice do you use to make yourself heard?
• Can the voice convince even when listening?
• Perform confidently – but how?

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The author:

Arno Fischbacher is a business voice coach and rhetoric expert, speaker and author. He prepares executives and employees of the top companies in Germany and Austria for negotiations, presentations and media appearances. Fischbacher is the author of several books, past president of the German Speakers Association (GSA) Austria, chairman of the European Network of Voice Experts, stimme.at.

If you would like to learn more about specific training opportunities with Arno Fischbacher, make an appointment here free information talk.

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