How to Speak Up as an Introvert at Work

As an introverted woman facing a low self-image, it can be challenging to communicate your thoughts and opinions at work, especially when you are in the early stages of your career, and everything about the corporate job feels like a new experience.

Sometimes, you can spend all the time feeling anxious to find the right opportunity to speak up in meetings and still be unable to do so. Although it is not a big deal if you don’t speak up, it still holds you back from making connections, sharing your knowledge, or expressing your ideas with the team.

Here are some tips:

1. Prepare for the meeting topic in advance to feel empowered when joining the meeting.
2. Try speaking up in one-on-one and small group settings to get in the habit of speaking up and boost your confidence.
3. It’s okay to feel nervous or fumble while speaking during the meetings when you are new to this. Don’t let that fear hold you back from sharing your opinions. With time, it will get easier and better.
4. Try to engage with everyone early when the meeting gets started. That will break the ice and make you feel comfortable.
5. Embrace your strengths like paying attention, thinking, and listening so you can understand the context and actively participate.
6. Take notes about the discussions on high-priority projects and if you have any questions in mind so you can ask them later.

Finally, if you couldn’t speak during the meeting, leverage tools like Outlook or Slack to communicate later via emails or chats.

P.S. — If you are looking to boost your confidence, get a FREE copy of the Self-Image and Confidence Boost Workbook for Introverted Women here:

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