37. 5 Ways to be Heard in the Workplace

I continually hear from women and have also experienced it myself many times that it is often hard to feel heard in the workplace. 

It is the ability to be seen, heard and understood. 

How many times have you made a suggestion regarding a problem that has been ignored by the group to be mentioned later by a man and then everyone thinks it is the best idea ever! 

How often have you been shutdown, interrupted, ignored or told that your point is irrelevant in a meeting. Me - lots! 

5 Ways to be Heard in the Workplace 

So here is a list of ideas to help you create VISIBILITY for yourself and help get your point across. 

No-one wants to be the person who is always chipping in with something to say and everyone else is bored by it and looking out the window. But unfortunately that is what men do all the time and through this they create VISIBILITY for themselves. 

1. Speak up and speak often 

When you are in meetings speak at the start of the meeting and then speak often throughout the meeting. 

Plan to speak every 10 or so minutes during the meeting. Prepare prior to the meeting so that you have something to say. Ask questions, agree with colleagues, add your own ideas. Pay attention to the meeting.

 Speak at the end of the meeting so teams know that you were there. 

2. Create space in a meeting to speak up. 

I always thought that you should speak when you have something interesting to say. In fact on a recent linked in post I put out - someone even reminded me of this. 

You need to create the space in a meeting to be heard. What you say doesn’t really have to be that insightful. You are trying to create visibility.  

Space is not going to be created for you to speak up. You will need to interrupt and talk over people. Men do it all the time and never look backwards. Just do it.

3. Get space on the agenda

Routinely get time on the agenda to present your work and also your team’s work. I always advocate for people to showcase their teams work but as a women you really want to increase your own visibility. So if you get the team to present then introduce the team and also wrap up the team and then also add in during the presentation as well. 

You should aim to be presenting work more broadly every 1 - 2 months or quarterly. 

4. Speak up if you are left out

If you are left off a meeting, or an event or an agenda then speak up and get yourself back on an agenda. This can be exhausting and it can be tempting to give up as this can drag you backwards. But don’t give up - keep going, it will get easier. Keep asking to be included. 

5. Create relationships outside of set meetings

Group meetings are not the only place to be seen, heard and understood - you can also do this one on one. Make sure that you have regular meetings with each of your colleague 1:1 at least once a month. This is an opportunity to align with your colleagues and seek endorsement of your ideas. This will allow you deepen relationships but also influence outside of meetings as well. 

So this week in the office when you are in meetings:

•  Speak up
•  Speak often
•  Speak at the end 

 Be visible - let everyone know that you have arrived. 

In fact get to the meeting early and sit in the power seats! 

Give it a go! 

Need some extra motivation. Check out the following podcasts.

Take control of your career with these 10 strategies to Get a Promotion

Why resilience is the skill we all need! 

Cheers Sam xx