Speaking up in meetings – an exposure ladder for work

It’s tempting to wait for the perfect moment: a fully formed thought, the right pause, and certainty that no one else will say the same thing. Often the meeting ends before all those conditions are met. Gradual practice means making your contribution smaller and more observable.

A ladder from easy to hard

1. Say a clear hello when the meeting starts.
2. Say yes or confirm a specific point out loud instead of in the chat.
3. Ask a prepared factual question.
4. Summarise what you understood: “So the next step is …”
5. Share a prepared opinion in one sentence.
6. Ask a spontaneous follow-up question.
7. Present a short point or lead part of the meeting.

Pick one level and repeat it across several meetings. Try contributing early on – waiting can otherwise raise the bar with every passing minute.

Prepare talking points

Write one or two keywords, not a full script. A useful structure is:

• observation: “I see the timeline has changed.”
• significance: “That affects testing.”
• question or suggestion: “Could we move the check-in to Wednesday?”

This structure helps you be concrete without needing to deliver an exact wording.

During the meeting

When you notice yourself searching for perfect timing, take the next reasonable pause instead. Start with the person’s name or “I’d like to add something.” Finish your first sentence before judging how it landed.

If someone interrupts, you can say “I’ll just finish this thought” or let them speak and come back to it. An interruption doesn’t automatically mean your point was bad – interruptions are common in many meeting cultures.

Ease off safety behaviours

Examples include always turning your camera off, writing everything in the chat, asking a colleague to raise your idea for you, or waiting until after the meeting. Choose one behaviour to vary. You could, for instance, keep your camera on for five minutes, or say a point out loud that you’d otherwise have typed.

After the meeting

Log the action: “I asked the question.” Note what actually happened and choose your next repetition. The thought that it could have been phrased more elegantly isn’t the same as it not being worth saying.