Feeling Dismissed by Peers or Leadership? (Taking Your Voice Back)

http://www.sherylkline.com/blog

Have you ever walked into a meeting prepared, thoughtful, ready to contribute ... and then left feeling dismissed?

Maybe you were spoken over.
Maybe your idea got brushed past.
Maybe you watched the conversation move on like you never opened your mouth.

It is incredibly frustrating.

And, I want you to hear this clearly:

Your voice matters. It matters more now than ever.
And you deserve to be heard, valued, and respected in the rooms you are in.

The good news is this does not have to keep happening. There is a proven process to reduce those moments and increase your influence without needing to become louder, sharper, or someone you are not.

Here are two strategies you can start using immediately.

1) Walk in Clear on Your Message ... and the Meaning Behind It

Before we talk tactics, we have to talk about mindset. Not in a vague motivational way ... in a practical, performance based way.

I want to share a simple parable that makes this point.

There are three people laying bricks.

Someone walks up to the first and asks, “What are you doing?”
She says, “I’m laying bricks.”

They ask the second person the same question.
She says, “I’m building a church.”

Then they ask the third.
She says, “I’m building direct communication with God.”

This is not a religious statement. It’s a meaning statement.

Same work. Same bricks. Same room.

Different perceived purpose. Different power.

And when you are going into a room where you might be dismissed ... it is critical to decide ahead of time what your message means.

Are you walking in thinking, “This is just one more update”?

Or are you walking in knowing, “This point protects the team, improves the outcome, reduces risk, saves time, increases performance”?

Because when you assign real meaning to your message, you show up differently.

You speak with more certainty.
You take up appropriate space.
You stay grounded when tension shows up.

So before your next meeting, get clear on three things:

What exactly do I need to say?
Why does it matter to the team, the leader, or the business?
What will be lost if I do not express it?

When you do this, you’re not just “sharing an idea.” You’re advancing something that matters.

2) Use a Simple Interruption Script That Protects the Relationship and Reclaims the Floor

Now let’s talk about what happens when you get interrupted.

This is common, especially for women. And research also shows it can happen even more for women who are further marginalized within our gender.

When it happens, it makes sense that you would feel frustrated or angry. That reaction is human.

The problem is ... when emotions go up, performance goes down.

And when your performance drops, your voice and impact shrink in the very moment you need them most.

So here’s a strategy that helps you interrupt the interruption ... while staying composed.

It comes from Chris Voss and it’s called an accusations audit.

The concept is simple: you say out loud what you think the other person might be thinking about you in that moment. When you name it, it often releases its power.

Read the rest at: https://www.sherylkline.com/blog/feeling-dismissed-by-peers-or-leadership

If you have questions, or if I can support you or your team in any way, reach out. I’m cheering you on always! http://www.sherylkline.com/meeting
- Sheryl