Welcome to ​Arise Leadership​: Where women learn actionable ways to have a voice at the table and get promoted faster.

Hi Reader,

Have you registered for our upcoming fireside chat?

On February 1st, Salesforce COO, Vivienne Wei, will join us for a candid conversation on career growth, commanding respect and power in the workplace, and navigating motherhood with leadership.
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​Save your FREE seat here.​

Let's spice it up more now. Shall we?

“You’re an introvert. You could never be a good leader.”

My friend’s boss rejected her promotion.

The worst part? This isn't the first time I've heard a story like this.

"Shivani, I received feedback that I don't have an executive presence."
"Shivani, I don't feel the need to speak up every time but it hurts my visibility in the org."
"Shivani, my boss told me I must be louder in meetings."​
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Here's the thing:

If you're someone who struggles to speak up in high-stakes meetings, here are a few strategies you can use to get your voice heard and own a seat at the table:

#1 Identify what preparation you need to do

Spending 10-20 minutes preparing for a meeting, whether you are leading it or not, helps you enter a meeting more confidently.

A few questions you can ask yourself:

1. What are the core points my audience needs to hear?
2. Who will likely push back on my suggestion and why would they do so?
3. How does my suggestion affect other departments? Will any cross-functional partner have any concerns?
4. Before the meeting, should I connect with any stakeholder to get their buy-in or insights on my presentation?
5. If I feel overwhelmed, what is my game plan to calm myself?

Write down the answers to these questions on paper to feel more grounded and ready.

#2 Have an ally create space for you

If you're nervous about speaking up in a meeting with a difficult personality or a senior stakeholder, request an ally (your manager, a peer, a mentor) to suggest that you have an idea that you'd like to share.

An ally who understands you will be more than happy to advocate for you. Allow yourself to be vulnerable with them and express why this is important.

Here's what an Ariser shared with her manager:

"Hey [name], I've prepped some helpful insights for our roadmap update with [name]. Would you mind creating space for me so I can plug in these ideas today?"

Guess what? Her manager gave her a shoutout during the meeting and she aced it.

#3 Practice in low-stake situations

If you're still feeling a bit angsty, remember to keep practicing speaking up. It helps to start with situations where no bad outcomes are possible.

This could mean asking to be moved to a better table in a restaurant. It could also be asking to increase the deadline of a low-priority project.

Even if the waitress or your manager says 'no', nothing will happen. But you'll get accustomed to speaking up and presenting your thoughts.

If you've ever been hesitant to speak up, why was that?

I'll see you next week.

We have an exciting announcement. 👀 Stay tuned!
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Cheers,
Shivani

P.S. Don't forget to register for the fireside chat with Vivienne Wei.

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