Have you ever sat in a problem-solving meeting and shared what you thought was a great idea only to have it ignored? Then five minutes later, someone else shares the same thought and is met with acknowledgement? It’s a frustrating and dismissive experience. It can also impact your perceived performance, results and even income. It doesn’t have to be this way. Some of the reasons for this experience are out of your control, but there are a few small tweaks you can create to make it more likely you are seen and heard. It’s not about speaking louder, interrupting, or elbowing your way to the front of the room. It’s not about becoming more extraverted, wearing a navy or black suit, or being taller. It is about how you present the idea. It’s about both your content and your presence.
When sharing ideas, it would be great if you could just say what comes into your head as you think of it and have others get it. That is what happens with our close friends and family. But in other situations, the people we are talking with don’t know us as well and are more likely to think differently than we do. Making sure your ideas are understood and valued is less about what’s in your head and more about what’s in the other person’s. You want to communicate your idea in a way that the people in the meeting are most likely to connect to. How does your idea impact how their work is measured? Are your ideas data driven or story driven? Can you provide both? What’s in it for your colleagues to adopt your idea?
Equally important is how you are perceived through your presence. What do I mean by presence? Presence is your ability to project a sense of ease, self-assurance and confidence. Even when we are sure of ourselves, our body language is often somewhere else, as we are focused on the thoughts in our heads. But feel what happens when you consciously sit or stand straight, take a deep breath that fills your diaphragm, feel your feet on the floor, your seat in the chair if you are sitting, and lower your shoulders. Your whole energy shifts, you are more grounded and others can see that, too. Try it yourself in front of a mirror and see what you think.
Want to dive deeper into these ideas and make sure that you are seen, heard and supported? Come join us for a one-day workshop, Resilient Leadership – Power, Presence and Persuasion, on Friday, October 9.
To reserve your spot now and receive 50% off admission, follow the link below and enter the code “P3VIP50”.
Discount ends after Labor Day, September 7th.
