Tips for Confidently Expressing Opinions

How to speak up when it feels safer not to. 10 ways to challenge with respect. You’ve been in this meeting. A senior team gathers to discuss a big decision. Someone says something that doesn’t sit right. Everyone notices. Everyone hesitates. And then... silence. Because speaking up feels risky. But staying silent? That costs even more. After decades in these rooms, here’s what I’ve learned: 1) If you don’t speak up, people assume you agree. → Silence doesn’t protect you—it defines you. → Say: “I see it differently—can I explain why?” 2) Being first is uncomfortable. → But it opens the door for others to follow. → Ask: “Is anyone else thinking about it differently?” 3) You teach people how to treat you. → Every “sure” tells them their idea is fine. → Try: “I don’t love that direction—here’s why.” 4) Disagreeing isn’t disrespectful. → Tone matters more than opinion. → Say: “Would it be okay if I offered a pushback?” 5) Fake harmony blocks real solutions. → If no one disagrees, nothing gets better. → Try: “I wonder what we’re not saying yet?” 6) Credibility builds real influence. → People listen to who earns their respect. → Build it by asking smart questions. 7) Silence sends a message, even if you didn’t mean to. → People assume you're on board. → Say: “I have another take -- can I share it?” 8) You don’t need everyone to agree. → But you do need to speak clearly. → Say what you mean in one sentence, then pause. 9) You don’t need a title to lead. → Trust is built by what you do, not what you have. → Be the steady voice people rely on when it counts. 10) People remember who spoke when they couldn’t. → Your voice might be the one they needed. → That’s leadership. 💬 If you don’t say it, no one will. ✅ Speak with purpose. ✅ Challenge with respect. ✅ Lead with credibility, not just a title. You don’t have to take over the room. You just have to move it forward. What’s one phrase or approach you use to challenge with respect? Please share 👇 ______________________ ♻ Repost to remind someone that quiet isn’t always safe. 👉Follow Stephanie Eidelman (Meisel) for more ways to grow your visibility and influence at work. 📫 Subscribe to my free newsletter, The Career Edit, for tools to lead with confidence: https://hubs.la/Q03dY9_n0

During my time as a sales leader, I was often the only woman in the room. I noticed how differently my male colleagues acted on sales calls: They asked for what they wanted, even thought I knew they were nervous. They sat up straight and spoke with purpose. I thought: if they are…why can’t I? So I learned and tracked the things I needed to be more assertive at work. I stopped playing small. The thing is…the women who come to me for coaching are more than capable… ...but fear, perfectionism, and worrying about what others might think holds them back. They want to reclaim their confidence. So we start with the basics: 𝟭. 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗱𝘀 𝗺𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿. Don’t dilute what you’re saying with words like “just” or “only”. Swap: “I just wanted to add…” for “I’d like to add…” 𝟮. 𝗟𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗽𝗶𝘁𝗰𝗵: 𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆, 𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗸 𝗮 𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘁𝗹𝗲 𝗹𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻 𝘂𝘀𝘂𝗮𝗹. You’d be surprised - it actually sounds normal, especially since we tend to raise our pitch when we’re nervous. 𝟯. 𝗘𝗹𝗶𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘀𝗲 𝗽𝗵𝗿𝗮𝘀𝗲𝘀: • “Sorry, but…” • “Does that make sense?” • “I could be wrong, but…” • “This might be a dumb question, but…” 4. 𝗧𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗶𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗳𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗹𝘆. No more “Oh, it was nothing.” Just 👏 say 👏 “Thank you” 👏 5. 𝗦𝗶𝘁 𝘂𝗽 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁. And while you’re at it, stop touching your hair. It’s giving “nervous kid in the principal’s office” energy. 𝟲. 𝗥𝗲𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗳 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗯𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘁𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲. Seriously. Make a list. Bookmark it. Be your own hype woman. 𝟳. 𝗖𝗵𝗲𝗰𝗸 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗳-𝘁𝗮𝗹𝗸. Listen to what you’re saying to yourself when you’re struggling with your confidence. Is that how you 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵 to be speaking to yourself? What about you? What’s your best tip for not playing small at work? Share it in the comments. I want to hear from you.

I can't tell you how many times I've heard people say, "I should have been a lawyer... I love to argue!" Of course, the art of persuation and argumentation is a natural part of being a trial attorney. But you don't need to be a good lawyer — or a lawyer at all — to use the art of argumentation to your benefit. As a trial attorney and communication coach, I've honed techniques to bolster arguments effectively. Here are three actionable strategies to enhance the potency of your arguments: ✅ Avoid Overused Phrases Cut out words like "clearly" and "obviously." If a point truly is clear or obvious, stating it as such becomes redundant. Instead, focus on presenting compelling evidence and reasoning that naturally reinforce your argument. ✅ Lead with Your Strongest Point Don't save your best for last. Kick off with your most compelling argument. Research shows that people often base their acceptance or rejection of subsequent points on the strength of the initial one. Grab attention and build credibility right from the start. Example: If advocating for stricter punctuality at work, start with a bold assertion: "Consistent tardiness undermines productivity and professionalism." ✅ Start with a Conclusion, Not Evidence Begin with a clear assertion rather than burying your point in evidence. Practice framing your statements with "I believe that" to distinguish between evidence and conclusions. Example: Instead of leading with evidence ("You've been late three days this week"), start with a firm conclusion: "You're not taking this job seriously." By implementing these strategies, you can elevate the effectiveness of your arguments, whether in professional settings, personal discussions, or formal debates. Remember, clarity, timing, and assertiveness are key elements in constructing persuasive arguments. #lawyer #life #persuasion #lifehack #success

Can you be humble and confident at the same time? This concept is something I struggled with for a long time. Along with impostor syndrome, it can put a big damper on your career aspirations. Here's three ways to combat the doubt you feel when expressing your confidence: 1. Have an honest self-assessment. I am good at my job, and have a lot of experience. I am not the top in my field, and don't try to compete there, because I also know my own limitations. Honestly evaluate your own capabilities vs your target client/customer/manager. 2. Don't promise what you can't deliver. It will undermine the confidence others have in you as well as the confidence you have in yourself. Some problems can't be avoided, do your best to explain this, and always always ALWAYS ask for more time than you need in a maintenance window :) When explaining for people outside your field, break things down into understandable language so they get the gist of your plan and can share your confidence. 3. Speak calmly and respectfully, even to those who doubt. Refer back to prior experience to back up your claims, but remain calm. Keeping calm presents a solid, reliable image for others, but it also helps with your own peace and confidence. Remember, you are good at your job and have a lot of experience. You don't need to shout to be heard.