Making Yourself Heard at Work: The Public Speaking Advantage
In today's fast-paced professional world, being good at your job is no longer enough. To stand out, progress, and influence decisions, you need to make yourself heard. Whether you're in a team meeting, delivering a presentation, or speaking up in a brainstorming session, your ability to communicate with clarity and confidence is crucial. Yet for many professionals—both beginners and seasoned experts—speaking up remains a daunting challenge.
This blog post explores one of the most common public speaking issues: making yourself heard at work. We'll look at why it happens, what it costs you professionally, and how you can overcome it using tested strategies, psychological insights, and actionable techniques.
The Silent Struggle: When You Feel Invisible in the Workplace
Meet Sarah. She’s a talented project manager, known for her organisational prowess and problem-solving ability. But during team meetings, Sarah often stays quiet. She worries that her ideas aren’t quite polished enough or that others will speak over her. When she does try to contribute, her voice comes out thin, hesitant, and often goes unnoticed. Her quieter colleagues nod in sympathy—they’ve been there too.
If you’ve ever:
Felt your voice waver during a meeting,
Struggled to get a word in during discussions,
Been overlooked for promotions or leadership opportunities despite strong performance,
...then this post is for you.
Let’s break down what’s really going on—and how to change it.
Why Don’t People Speak Up?
Psychologists and workplace researchers have identified several key reasons why people struggle to speak up effectively:
Fear of Judgement – The worry that you’ll say the wrong thing and be thought of as incompetent.
Imposter Syndrome – Feeling like you don’t really belong, even if you’re doing well.
Poor Vocal Technique – A quiet, monotonous, or rushed delivery makes it harder for others to listen.
Lack of Structure – Speaking without clarity or organisation makes your ideas harder to follow.
Cultural and Social Dynamics – In some environments, being assertive can feel risky or inappropriate.
Understanding what’s holding you back is the first step to overcoming it. Let’s now explore what you can do to become a confident communicator in the workplace.
Strategy 1: Build a Foundation of Confidence
Confidence isn’t something you’re born with—it’s something you build, like a muscle.
Expert Insight:
Amy Cuddy, a social psychologist at Harvard, found that body language and posture can actually change the way we feel about ourselves. Her “power posing” technique shows that adopting confident body positions can increase testosterone (linked to dominance) and decrease cortisol (linked to stress).
Practical Exercise:
Before your next meeting, take two minutes in private to stand tall, with your arms open or placed confidently on your hips. Breathe deeply and remind yourself: I have something valuable to say.
Coaching Tip:
Work with a coach to develop your personal power story—a reminder of times you’ve spoken up successfully. Revisit it before high-stakes conversations.
Strategy 2: Develop Vocal Authority
Even brilliant ideas fall flat when delivered with weak vocal energy.
Key Challenges:
Speaking too softly
Monotone delivery
Rushing through sentences
Expert Insight:
Dr. Patsy Rodenburg, voice coach to the Royal Shakespeare Company, stresses the importance of “presence.” She teaches speakers to find their breath, open their chest, and project from the diaphragm.
Practical Exercise:
Each morning, practice reading aloud for five minutes. Emphasise key words. Vary your pitch. Slow down your pace. Record yourself and listen back.
Coaching Tip:
In a coaching session, we’ll identify your default vocal patterns and help you build greater vocal range, projection, and warmth.
Strategy 3: Engage with Structure
If you ramble, your message will get lost. Structure gives your speech clarity and punch.
Try This Framework: The PREP Method
Point – State your main idea.
Reason – Explain why it matters.
Example – Give a concrete example.
Point (again) – Restate your point for emphasis.
Example:
"I believe we should delay the product launch (Point). Rushing it could harm our brand if we don’t address the current bugs (Reason). Last year’s Q3 rollout lost us key clients due to similar issues (Example). That’s why a short delay now is the wiser move (Point again)."
Practical Exercise:
Practice using the PREP method in low-stakes settings like one-to-one meetings or emails. It builds clarity and influence.
Strategy 4: Master Your Body Language
Your body speaks—even when your mouth doesn’t.
Common Mistakes:
Fidgeting with a pen
Avoiding eye contact
Closed posture (arms folded, shoulders hunched)
Expert Insight:
Nonverbal communication expert Carol Kinsey Goman notes that body language accounts for up to 55% of communication. That means your posture, gestures, and eye contact matter just as much as your words.
Practical Exercise:
Film yourself speaking for two minutes. Watch with the sound off first. Are you expressive? Do you look open and confident?
Coaching Tip:
We’ll identify any distracting habits and help you build a relaxed, confident presence tailored to your professional environment.
Strategy 5: Learn to Persuade with Purpose
Once you’re being heard, the next step is being believed.
Expert Insight:
Aristotle’s three modes of persuasion—ethos (credibility), pathos (emotion), and logos (logic)—are as relevant in the boardroom as they were in the agora.
Practical Application:
Use data to support your point (logos)
Show alignment with company values (ethos)
Highlight what’s at stake for the team or customer (pathos)
Practical Exercise:
Take a recent workplace argument or pitch and rewrite it using all three elements. Notice how much more compelling it becomes.
Final Thought: Being Heard is a Skill, Not a Gift
You don’t have to be the loudest voice in the room to have impact. You just have to be the clearest, the most confident, and the best prepared.
Speaking up at work can transform how others perceive you—and how you perceive yourself. It opens doors to leadership, collaboration, and recognition.
And you don’t have to do it alone.
Ready to Be Heard? Let’s Talk.
If you’re tired of being overlooked, interrupted, or simply unheard—coaching can make all the difference. Working with a skilled public speaking coach means personalised strategies tailored to your voice, your role, and your challenges.
With one-to-one coaching, you’ll:
Build unshakeable confidence
Learn to structure ideas for impact
Polish your voice and delivery
Improve your executive presence
Take the first step towards being the speaker—and professional—you’re meant to be.
Reach out to me today and let’s unlock your full communication potential.
