Making Yourself Heard In A Busy Workplace
- Learn to listen. Often being heard and having your opinions taken seriously comes from a true understanding of the issues (especially in a group session). Most people don't actively listen and subsequently any opinions they express are diluted.
- Be confident. Mostly confidence comes from preparation. If you know what you want to say and how you want to say it 99% of the work is done.
- Be punctual. Arriving late inevitably means you are playing catch-up. It is often at the beginning of a work day or meeting that you can lay the groundwork for something you have to say.
- Dress to impress (advice that has never left me). Dressing correctly doesn't necessarily mean being formal come it means being appropriate. The easiest example for me being practice sessions and game coaching. The informality of the practice court doesn't translate well when leading a team from the sideline. Attending a meeting in pyjamas may get you attention but it probably won't get you listened to. I realise this attitude is a shade old–school but I can take off a jacket and tie to become more casual I can never make jeans and T-shirt look formal.
- Be assertive. In a world that seems to be dominated by extroverts it may be difficult to find a voice but it can be done. A good leader will make sure that everyone in a group can be heard but sometimes they need help. Saying what you have to say directly to the leader in a room/meeting can prompt them to focus on you out and amplify what you have to say.
- Project your voice. One of the first things I had to learn as a teacher what's how to be heard over the noise of a busy classroom. Even when children are working hard and being attentive there is always background noise and the physical size of the classroom to overcome. There are various tips and tricks to help you project your voice in a way that commands attention without shouting.
Note: I found online in the Telegraph newspaper (05 Oct 2015) about a Princeton and Brigham Young study where males were found to speak in meetings up to 75% of the time in comparison to 25% from women.
It is only now that I realise how important a gender issue this is. On reflection I realise that most of the rubbish I have heard in meetings has mostly come from men. Whilst my thoughts probably need refining, as I write, I think the biggest problems in male dominated discussions comes from one-upmanship, arrogance and a desire to project a competence that doesn't exist.
It seems then that included in the above list should be; respecting the opinion of others. Being humble enough to accept we are not always right all of the time and confine our comments to things we actually know something about.
It is only now that I realise how important a gender issue this is. On reflection I realise that most of the rubbish I have heard in meetings has mostly come from men. Whilst my thoughts probably need refining, as I write, I think the biggest problems in male dominated discussions comes from one-upmanship, arrogance and a desire to project a competence that doesn't exist.
It seems then that included in the above list should be; respecting the opinion of others. Being humble enough to accept we are not always right all of the time and confine our comments to things we actually know something about.