You want to speak up. You’re ready to be heard. The only problem is…You don’t know what to say. It’s like your opinions have gone missing, and you just can’t seem to find where they’re hiding.
Not to worry. You can get your opinion back. These tips will help.
Create your opinion before the meeting even starts.
Here’s what sometimes happens. We’re in the middle of the meeting, and everyone has made such good points that we have no idea what to think. We get swayed by each person’s stance to the point where we aren’t clear on our own. There is nothing wrong with this, and if you’re wanting to approach your meeting with more clarity about what you think, then decide it ahead of time. Often before a meeting starts, you have a general idea of what will be discussed. So give yourself some time before the meeting to formulate your opinion and thoughts. Write them down, say them out loud. This doesn’t mean you can’t change your mind when the meeting is going, but it does give you the chance to know what you’ve been thinking so you can add to the discussion.
Ask questions to get clearer.
If you’re not sure what you think, you may not be the only one. It may be that some additional data or discussion is needed to help parse out the points. So if you don’t have a stance, then share your questions instead. Those questions can be just as valuable – if not more – because they prompt dialogue that can help uncover new insights that can help you, and the team, decide what to do next.
Know the purpose for what you’re sharing about.
If your opinion is muddled, it may be because there are conflicting priorities. Before we can know what we think, we need to know what matters, in order of priority. Clarify what those priorities are, either during group discussion or on your own, and then use that clarity to decide what it is you’re thinking. If there is a lot of disagreement among the team at large, its further evidence of competing goals. Suggest a team discussion to parse out the priorities and that will help all know how to move forward as well as uncover points for clarification.
Not having an opinion isn’t a problem. It just means you haven’t decided what you believe. The tips above can help you determine what you choose to believe and contribute to discussions no matter where you’re at with your opinion.
Written by Lisa Philyaw, M.S. Psychology and Career Confidence Coach. More free resources and trainings on evolving your career with confidence can be found at www.beliefseed.com.