For any business or other organization to function at its best requires teamwork and efficient utilization of resources, and that includes people. Often team members, particularly those new to a firm or in the early stages of their careers, have valuable ideas or insights to offer, but don’t know how to make themselves heard, which means they aren’t contributing all that they could be.
Many individuals are uncomfortable drawing attention to themselves or trying to be the loudest voice in the room, but that doesn’t mean they don’t have anything to say, or that others aren’t interested in listening. Great ideas can come from anywhere and the best ones are usually the result of collaboration and group brainstorming. But even if you have some of the best ideas in the world, in order to get others to hear them, you first have to get other people to pay attention.
Feeling free to voice your opinions, ask questions or raise objections is an important part of being a valuable team member. It also adds to the sense of purpose and fulfillment most people get when they can see that their input matters. Following are a few tips for giving voice to your ideas among your co-workers and supervisors.
Listen Before You Speak.
The fact is that most people are terrible listeners. Too often we think we already know what the other person is going to say and are busy preparing a response rather than actually listening to their message. It’s hard to add something meaningful to the conversation if you don’t know what everyone is talking about.
Ask Questions.
It’s true that the only dumb questions are the ones that are never asked. Don’t be afraid to ask for clarification on any points that seem unclear. It can be helpful to rephrase what’s already been said to show that you are engaged in the discussion and understand the mission. This can also present an opportunity to address any points of confusion.
Know What You’re Talking About.
Don’t expect your colleagues to just accept your word at face value. Explain your thinking and then back up your insight or opinion with supporting data. Try to frame the issue according to how it meshes with the firm’s priorities.
Have Something to Say.
While it is important to be able to make yourself heard within your firm, don’t feel the need to weigh in on every discussion. If people think you’re speaking just to hear yourself talk, when you do have something important to say, it’s quite possible no one will be listening.
Present Solutions, Not Problems.
Pointing out what’s wrong with someone else’s idea is easy. Much harder is offering a solution to a problem. Your suggestion might not be the one that resolves the problem, but it could trigger an idea in someone else that does lead to a solution. If you don’t have the answer, are you helping to find one, or just highlighting a problem?
Cut to the Chase.
No matter how good your idea is, no one wants to listen to a long preamble. Get to the point quickly. State what you have to say and then answer any questions. Then briefly summarize the main points to make sure everyone’s on the same page.
Stick to the Message.
In business communication your language and tone should be neutral and non-judgmental. Be polite and don’t interrupt others or get emotional. Don’t go off on tangents. Remember what Desmond Tutu says his father always told him, “Don’t raise your voice. Improve your argument.”
No business can function at its optimal level without good two-way internal communications and input from everyone.
The important thing is to give voice to your thoughts and to feel comfortable sharing them with others. You won’t always get agreement and you won’t always get your way. But that’s not really the point anyway. Being part of the conversation is.
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