Have you ever tried to pitch an idea and asked yourself why you even bothered to try? Have you ever commented on a meeting and felt completely ignored by your peers? Have you ever made a suggestion that didn’t get taken seriously? Do you feel like you are not being listened to at work? Don’t worry anymore about that. We can help you find a way to fix that problem.
The workplace can sometimes feel like a jungle, where a non-spoken hierarchy prevails, like the survival of the best fit. Some people can be more of a hunter type and have it all conquered by their mere presence, and some others can feel threatened by just walking around and having to make conversation if they bump into anyone.
When it comes to being heard, it can be especially difficult for certain people. Whether we like it or not, it tends to happen gladly for us; it happens less and less every day.
When you are a department rookie, you are expected to have a hard time getting heard. Your more experienced teammates may often discard your ideas without even noticing.
Some personality traits can make it difficult, too. For shy people, insisting on an idea or speaking up during a meeting, talking intensely, and taking back the word if interrupted can be a big challenge. And as much as we wish it weren’t that way, it’s common to find that women struggle to make their voices heard.
But let’s get down to business. We need to stop dwelling on the problem and start exploring its solutions.
Avoid Rambling
If you have a rough time talking to people, nerves might get you talking in circles for a while. That used to happen to Andy; she was a bit shy, and when the opportunity to pitch her ideas came, she wasted some of that time by being vague or diving too fast into details.
When she started rambling, she lost her audience, and within seconds, no one was paying attention. This can happen to anyone, but you need to know that it can make you look uncertain of what you are saying, which is the opposite of what you want.
People’s attention spans are not very long nowadays; they have never been. You need to be aware of this and use it to your advantage. Start with the main idea, be global, and be engaging, and when you have their full attention, you can start diving into the details.
Try having notes about the main topics you want to cover and be realistic about how many of them you can put on the table during an encounter. You can rehearse them if you feel like it, practice being concise, prepare the answers to common questions they might ask, and so on.
Appeal To The Results
Part of getting straight to the point is running some numbers beforehand. Whether you want to pitch a new project or suggest improving a process on a current one, you need to frame it so the results are part of the proposal. People need to know what they will be investing in and how big of a profit it will bring.
So, if you want to propose a solution plan for a current project issue, start by saying something related to how it will help in the end. For example, “Hey, I’ve been thinking a lot about this issue, and we could improve the quality of the product and reduce the costs if we change to an organic supplier.”
By framing your idea that way, you immediately catch the attention of the reader, who becomes interested in hearing how you plan to find those results. People pay attention to the things that catch their attention, so start with that.
Hunt For The Right Time
When it’s already tough to get heard, you need to improve your odds as much as you can. Timing can make all the difference in the world. An idea pitched right before lunchtime won’t be received the same way as one pitched mid-morning when the workflow allows the space to have that conversation.
Be observant, and try to find a pattern. At what time do you see your boss in a good mood, when is a quieter time in the office where you might be better heard? Once you are there, remember to observe the nonverbal cues, too. What does your audience’s body language tell you? And what are you telling them through yours?
Be mindful of those details, try to be welcoming with your posture, and present yourself as sure of your point of view. You can adapt your speech to a quieter tone if you see them a little defensive or as you might see fit.
Engage Your Audience
Long monologues have a place in the theater, not the office. When people passively listen, they might not retain the information you are sharing, or you might lose their attention quickly. It would help if you got them interested in your idea and engaged in what you are saying.
Treat it as a conversation. If you share a proposal, let your peers voice their opinions, but don’t forget your north. You can be directive and conduct the conversation, getting them to ask questions, comment on your idea, or even complement it with something they hadn’t thought of.
You need to hook them into the conversation and make them want to listen, know more, and participate. Use your voice as a resource for that. Just like actors on a stage, a phrase can be said plainly and have people only receive information, or with little changes in your tone, an adequate volume, and intention, you can get them into the experience. Just like those actors, you can help them create the scene in their minds.
Do Some Networking
Creating some alliances is critical to finding support within your company. Connecting with co-workers outside work helps build healthy relationships and is a valuable way to strengthen the bonds to better the work. Having your colleagues get to know you can help them see that the rookie has much to offer, and pay attention next time you have something to say.
If women bond to support each other’s ideas at a meeting and create a platform to be heard, Larry won’t come and repeat what she just said and take credit for it. Remember that there is strength in numbers.
Sometimes, having excellent and genuine connections opens the door to opportunities. So please don’t waste the chance to make them happen. The people you work with are the first circle of your professional life, and investing time and energy in improving those relationships is a safe shot.
Listen Actively
To be heard, you need to know how to listen. People who listen to respond don’t get their ideas through. No one wants to lose the chance to deliver an important message because it is poorly framed. Listening to the person you are talking to and making an effort to understand their question, find the underlying message, and truly get what they want to say is an act of kindness.
If you want people to hear you, you need to lead by example and listen to them, too. There is no need to fight our voices; we can make space for all of them to be heard.
There is no better way to learn than to listen and observe, and getting to know people is no exception. By observing what others say and how they speak, you can learn how to approach them and be well-received.
Read people to find a way for your ideas to get through. And don’t forget that part of active listening is responding thoughtfully, making people feel heard, and showing them the way you want to be treated. When you start actively listening, people notice it, appreciate it, and most likely even mimic your behavior. Teach people to listen and listen to people to learn; it is all an important never-ending cycle.
Be Confident
Believing in yourself is no easy task. Some of us fight imposter syndrome on a regular basis, but doing so is the foundation for having anyone believe in you.
When you have something to say, you should be the first to know it is valuable and essential, so treat it like it. It would be best if you were convinced that your suggestion is practical and your comment is pertinent, and that will show and tell others that they are effective and valuable.
Confidence can be heard in your voice and seen in your body language. It is about wearing that confidence and making the most of it.
Respect your ideas so people can do the same. Speak with conviction, knowing the worth of your ideas and acknowledging that is a vital step in helping people realize that there is something to listen to.
We have a lot of noise inside our heads, and it is hard to quiet it down some days, but when we see someone who is convinced of where they stand and what they are saying, we will try our best to give them a chance to be heard and maybe, just maybe, convince us too.
Trying to get heard can be exhausting, especially if it is a daily battle. However, there are things we can do about it, even more so if we are contributing somehow to it, like doing it last minute, and so on. We can do all of the above, and hopefully, things will fall into place.
But if they don’t, maybe you should reconsider where you are… It is not only what you give but who receives it. Be mindful of where you put your energy, try it all, do your best, and choose to invest that energy if you find it worth the effort. So, what are you waiting to give it a try?
See more articles by Laura Navarro.
