Unlock Your Power: Finding and Growing Your Voice ✨

You might be shocked to learn that I was an extremely shy kid.

Don’t let that cute smile fool you. My biggest struggle was speaking in public. It morphed into a full-blown fear for me.

Even something as simple as going out to eat with my family, would be a challenge. The mere thought of talking to the waiter to order my meal had me in a panic… and I would just freeze.

Was this fear irrational or extreme? Of course it was!

But it was my reality.

I share this to show you that I wasn’t always the outspoken speaker you see today. I had to find my voice. And I know firsthand how hard it is to find your voice, especially in the workplace.

Through so many life and career experiences, I’ve learned how crucial it is to speak up and be heard! Whether that be in terms of self-advocacy, negotiating salary, sharing ideas/perspectives, voicing concerns, team building, etc., it’s critical to your success that you find your voice and use it boldly & clearly!

That being said, I wanted to use this issue to explore and share some thoughts and ideas, tips and tools that may help some of you who are finding your voice in.....

1. Negotiating

A great place to start… And this is a big one I'm finding that many people struggle with. It's one thing to know and understand the value you add or will potentially bring to the table. It is another to be able to put a number on it, and then another to confidently negotiate for that.

I learned early on in my career that when it comes to money, you oftentimes don’t get paid what you deserve, you get paid what you negotiate. So when presented with the opportunity, don't shy away from negotiating to maximize your earning potential!

While I was an online merchant at The Home Depot, I was fortunate to have taken a grueling week-long negotiation course and that taught me some invaluable lessons:

• Always, always negotiate.

• When presented with an offer, always do the proper research to understand the market value based on the role and/or services that are being provided.

• Even with this information in hand, always allow the other party to throw out their number first so you have an understanding of what they have budgeted for.

• Always ask for higher than the number you want so there is some wiggle room in where you finally land.

2. Meetings

Meetings are key to practically all business, and (an ideal) venue to speak up and be heard!

Still many have expressed feelings of anxiety and reserve in meetings, and many find it challenging to engage.

Thankfully there is a simple key to “mastering the meeting”.

Here are a few things that can put you in a better position when it’s time for those meetings:

• Reaching out to ask for a pre-read if one is not readily provided. This way, you can go through the documents and prepare in advance any questions or thoughts you might have or points you’d want to raise based on the presented information.

• Remember if/when presenting, the majority of the time no one else knows the information better than you do so use this to feed your confidence in your delivery.

• Welcome opposing viewpoints but do not cave in agreeance unless you really agree. Remember you can always choose to respectfully disagree.

I always tell my team that no one really knows more than you especially when you are presenting on strategies that you have developed and executed.

• When in these rooms, first, remember that there is a REASON why you are there.

• In meetings, just as in sales, CONFIDENCE is the key differentiator. So, whether you are seasoned in your career/business, or just starting out, walk into the room knowing that you belong there!

3. Career Discussions

To go after what you want, you have to first clearly know what you want. And once you do, you have to make sure that the right people are aware! However cliche it may be… “Closed mouths don’t get fed.” Whether within a corporate environment, or personal entrepreneurial endeavors, in order to pitch, close, bid, or advance, it is very important that you’re able to clearly articulate what it is that you are looking to accomplish and how you plan to do so. Be mindful of your path, and use your voice to…

• Build and nurture the RIGHT relationships with stakeholders, those who can then speak on your behalf and help you to get access to opportunities that are in line with your goals and career aspirations!

• Choose the right times to “talk shop”. When appropriate… Ask questions, and be open to communication with others on similar career paths… share experiences and explore growth opportunities through mentors and allyship.

4. Difficult Situations / Conflict Management

There’s never a dull moment, and no success without challenges. Sometimes these challenges manifest themselves in the form of rifts in interpersonal “workspace relations”. These tricky situations, whether they be a simple disagreement or a tense rivalry may challenge your patience, as well as push at the limits of your professionality… How do we use our voices in these situations without metaphorically (and literally) raising them? Even at wit’s end?

When faced with these situations, it’s important to:

• Always address conflict calmly and with a clear head. Sometimes it might not be best to respond in the moment, especially if you are feeling a high level of emotion. Take the day/night to think things through and then return to address the matter.

• When addressing conflict, ossuary, or other misunderstandings, while maintaining professional decorum, it’s important to be clear and direct. Nip it in the bud to reduce likelihood of reoccurrence. But always in the interest of resolution.

• Maintain your level of professionalism while also establishing boundaries. It’s ok to express what you will and won’t accept, tolerate, participate in, etc. Boundary setting across the board is hugely important and you want to make sure that there is always a level of respect maintained in terms of how you are treated while simultaneously maintaining an equal standard for how you treat others.

• You don’t ever need to be the loudest person in the room…your work and reputation speak for themselves. You may look for ways to drive visibility of that.

• In the case that you may be in error… “Mea Culpa”.

Learn to use your voice in a way that you build/maintain credibility and respect.

I know sometimes there can be a voice in your head that can make you doubt yourself as well as your abilities, but finding your voice and letting it be heard is one of the most powerful things that you can do.

Sneak Peek: Upcoming Topic

In the next edition, I plan to tackle the question of “Can you have it all?”…Or must there be sacrifices? As I provide my POV on this highly debated topic, I would first like to hear from you…… Do you believe you can have it all?

And as always, thank you for subscribing!

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