Finding your voice
Not long ago, I was just starting my career as a designer. Fresh out of college, I was the youngest on a team of outspoken individuals who seemed to be filled to the brim with ideas.
I’ve always been a quiet, introverted person. Spoken words don’t come very easily for me — I enjoy sitting in silence alone and often, I’ll say things only when I find them worthwhile to say. I’m not the kind of person who fills silence with small talk, and I’m totally fine sitting next to people for what seems like an eternity without feeling like I need to exchange a single word.
In a corporate environment though, sitting in silence isn’t the most productive way to advance your career or gain the recognition you might deserve. Even if you produce excellent work, there’s a good chance that you’ll get passed over for recognition if you aren’t able to stand up and advocate for yourself.
Finding a way to speak up for yourself, your ideas, and your work ultimately comes down to you. No matter how cliche or overrated soft skills can seem, they can end up making or breaking your career.
Held back by the voice in my head
While I was at my first job, I never really found my voice. Whether it was a combination of my quiet personality, the fact that it was my first job, or that others on the team were more outspoken, I rarely drew up the courage to speak my mind.
I sat through countless team meetings — sitting, listening, and agreeing with others, but hardly saying a word for myself. Most of the time, I had ideas that I wanted to share, but didn’t know when or how. It was more comfortable to listen to what others had to say, instead of putting myself on the line for a bad idea.
Eventually, I started feeling frustrated. I felt frustrated because others were sharing the very ideas that I had, and getting credit for it. I felt frustrated because people weren’t understanding the value of my work and ideas and I was getting passed over for recognition. In staying comfortable, I was missing countless opportunities to share the value of having a designer at the table, and even more specifically, my value as a designer.
When I joined Shopkick, I vowed to push myself out of that rut and become more comfortable with sharing my thoughts. Since then, I’ve finally found the courage to speak up and advocate for my own ideas. It took time, but I’ve become more confident in myself, and am better able to represent the value that I bring to the projects I work on. It took a lot of practice and putting myself outside of my comfort zone to get to where I am today.
Finding your voice takes time
For some, knowing exactly what to say and how to say it comes naturally. But if you’re like me, words don’t always come when or how you want it to. There’s been many times that I’ve felt embarrassed as thoughts flow too quickly to my head and I’m not able to articulate them quick enough. I stutter, or repeat myself, or talk in circles. The stuttering is probably the worst — sometimes, I feel myself beginning to turn red when I notice it happening. There are other times where I’ve felt like it’s just not worth it to say anything — like I’d jeopardize my reputation if I mistakenly said something incorrect.
It can be tough to come to terms with this, but finding your voice takes time. It’s not something that has to happen overnight — it takes practice, and often works better if you try to improve in small increments. Instead of forcing yourself to perform the most eloquent monologue ever penned by man, try challenging yourself to say one meaningful thing during your next team meeting. Just one thing, no matter what it is, can help others recognize that you’re actively thinking and evaluating the things that are being discussed.
By setting goals that are realistic it’s easier to see progress and keep you motivated to reach for the next level. Really, it’s okay to take baby steps sometimes!
Celebrate the little wins
Once you’ve said that first thing in a meeting, take the time to celebrate it!
One of the biggest mistakes that I made, and still make a whole lot, is not taking the time to celebrate the little wins. I often feel like only the big accomplishments are worthy of patting myself on the back — and that leads to a vicious cycle of feeling inadequate and feeling like I’m failing to achieve anything.
The thing is, you are achieving things! Taking the time to celebrate at each step not only will validate your achievement, but also give you the momentum to keep going. And of course, I don’t mean that these celebrations need to be elaborate — rather, just take the time to recognize your steps and to acknowledge that you are making progress. This can make all the difference in keeping you motivated to keep pushing yourself out of your comfort zone.
Use silence as your strength
If you have a quiet nature, getting yourself to speak up in meetings probably means you’re pushing yourself outside of your comfort zone pretty often. I know for a fact, that it can be really exhausting.
Luckily, finding your voice doesn’t mean you constantly need to push yourself in that way. Channel your introverted nature and craft it into a part of your presence.
Often, the words that you choose to withhold can be just as powerful, if not more powerful, than the words that you choose to say. Being able to find the right balance between sharing your thoughts and being discreet can leave a lasting impression — it shows that you’re thoughtful and coherent, while not overbearing others with your ideas. It demonstrates humility in a way, recognizing that you don’t always have to leave with the last word, and that you’re open to hearing out others ideas. Channel this as a strength that’s unique to you.
Own it!
Most of all, don’t forget that your voice is exactly that — YOUR OWN. Craft it in a way that’s unique and feels right to you. It’s okay if you still don’t speak up as much as everyone else in the room. The main thing is, your voice enables you to speak with confidence when you feel that you’re able to add value to the conversation. Channel that and own it!