How to Make Your Voice Heard at Work as a Woman

Being noticed at work is a determining factor for your professional career, and team meetings can be the ideal setting in which to make your ideas known. This way you can prove that your proposals will come in support of the clinic, pharmacy, or hospital where you work, that you are a valuable member of the team and a potential leader.

But even if you are confident in your strengths, it is not always possible to listen to your ideas. We often come across different situations at work, and team meetings can be very difficult at times.

Thus, no matter how good your ideas are, if you fail to convey them, both the team and the organization you belong to cannot benefit from your knowledge and experience to the fullest.

Making yourself heard seems to be even more difficult during online meetings, according to recent polls. While 70% of working women say they believe the coronavirus pandemic can give them more flexibility in setting a work schedule, a study by Catalyst shows that this flexibility comes at the expense of being able to work. making it hard at work.

The NGO conducted a survey showing that almost half of businesswomen say they find it difficult to be heard in meetings, and one in five women say they feel ignored or that their opinions have been overlooked by colleagues. Moreover, three out of five women say that their career prospects have worsened recently.

This information is not at all surprising if we look at other studies that show that women are often ignored during workplace meetings.

Not being able to be heard, not having a chance to speak, are things that can make you feel frustrated, demoralized and lead to many other problems at work. An employee who does not feel listened to is unproductive.

That's why we've prepared some tips for you to help you overcome this challenge.

Tips on how to make your voice heard

Women face more challenges than men in making their ideas heard, so it's more important than ever to know how to present and listen to our ideas.

Effective communication, the presentation of ideas, and the transmission of your point of view in meetings are all ways to make yourself heard and heard. The way you talk and convey ideas can help you make sure that people are actively listening to you.

Here are some tips to help you become an effective communicator and make your voice heard at work.

Give up the idea that everyone should like you

When you have something important to say at work, especially if you are a woman, and you want to impose your point of view, chances are that some people will negatively perceive this. But making everyone happy doesn't have to be a priority for you.

Being a pleasant person does not mean that you are a respected person, or that this will help you advance in your career or achieve your professional goals. Our advice is that when you know that your ideas are beneficial, you should pass them on tactfully without worrying that some of your colleagues will misinterpret this.

When you know that an important meeting is coming up, plan for what you want to say, build your speech, and repeat beforehand. By practicing exactly what you want to convey, you will have a clear, easier-to-understand message from your colleagues, and you will be more confident.

If you know that this is a more sensitive topic that could be met with criticism, prepare your arguments in advance to help convince them that your proposals are effective.

We also recommend that you consider when you want to come up with your proposals. Do not leave an important discussion that could last longer at the end of the meeting. Also, consider how you can talk face-to-face with a colleague before speaking in a broader setting.

Consider the language used

Try to pay attention to the language used and state things as clearly as possible. Avoid expressions like "I believe" or "I think so" and rather say "I did the calculations and…" or "I also analyzed…", "I think this is the best option because…". The more concise and clear your message, the less time you will need to hold everyone's attention.

Pay attention to the way you present

The way you present your ideas is very important because people are attracted first by the way you present your ideas and only then by the content of your message. Eye contact, gestures, posture, but also elements of speech, such as the volume of the voice, the tone, and speed with which you speak, are all elements that capture attention or, on the contrary, make the interlocutors lose interest.

For example, if you say something in an insecure tone, or speak slowly, you will give the impression that you are hesitant or asking permission and you will not be convincing. If you are not confident in your public speaking skills, you can try to record and then listen to yourself to see what you need to improve.

Think of potential allies

If you have a colleague with whom you are on the same wavelength and with whom you feel comfortable talking, and his / her opinions are respected, try to talk to him / her first. Whether it gives you feedback, if you need it, or supports your point of view during the meeting, we advise you to consider such an "ally". When proposals are supported by more than one employee, they are more likely to be adopted by management.

Ways you can make a valuable contribution to team meetings

The dynamic work environment in the field of health is not new to anyone. Urgent work meetings where important decisions are made for the good of patients can occur at any time. Here are some tips to help you trust yourself at work and be an asset to the team.

Trust yourself

You have been invited to attend the meeting because you are an experienced employee, or an employee who has the knowledge and skills to discuss the subject. Think about it, don't underestimate yourself, and consider this a chance to strengthen your position. If the reason for your participation is not clear to you, ask the manager or organizer of the meeting.

That way you will know exactly what your role is. Do not underestimate yourself and do not start from the premise that you have nothing to look for in that context. If you have been invited to attend, it means that you are wanted there and that your manager considers your presence an opportunity for you or needs your proposals.

Open the discussion

If you know that it is sometimes difficult for you to speak, do this at the beginning of the meeting, you will feel more relaxed. If you avoid talking, even though you want to convey something, you will be tense throughout the meeting and risk someone else presenting your idea to you.

Our advice is to take the initiative, but without being aggressive. You don't have to interrupt the discussion, but find the right time to intervene. You can also talk to the meeting organizer and put your speech on the agenda.

Follow your advice

When you feel insecure about taking the floor, think about what you would advise a friend if she were in your place. Would you encourage her to express her point of view? Or if she were a colleague and you know her ideas are relevant, what would you pass on to her? Take those tips and theories that you know and apply them. You can be your best supporter. Remember that you can contribute the most when you trust yourself.

Conclusion

Making your voice heard is not an easy thing to do, especially if you are a woman. Work meetings can sometimes be difficult, but they are a great way to increase your visibility at work and an opportunity to achieve the professional goals you want. With a little exercise, you can get the most out of these moments

Be confident, listen carefully to what is being discussed in the work meeting, ask pertinent questions, and get used to contributing valuable resources.