Episode 360: Confidence Hacks for Speaking Up at Work
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Speaking up at work is often treated as a communication skill, but more often than not, it's a confidence skill. In this episode of Workday Playdate, Erin explores why smart, capable people freeze in meetings, and how to build the habit of contributing with more confidence.
Using improv principles and practical workplace strategies, Erin shares how professionals can stop disappearing on the back line and start becoming the voice that shows up in the room. The goal isn't to be the loudest person in the meeting. It's to become someone who trusts themselves enough to participate.
Speaking Up Is Usually a Confidence Issue, Not a Competence Issue
Most people already know what they want to say—they just hesitate when the moment arrives. Erin explores why the barrier to participation is often fear of judgment, not lack of expertise, and why confidence grows faster through action than through preparation.
Silence Feels Safe, But It Can Make You Invisible
Holding back can protect you from saying the wrong thing, but it can also prevent others from seeing your ideas, leadership potential, and expertise. Erin shares why early and frequent participation changes how others perceive your confidence and capability at work.
Confidence Is Built Through Reps, Not Perfection
Many professionals wait to feel confident before they speak. Erin makes the case for reversing the equation: speak first, then let confidence catch up. Thinking on your feet is less about natural talent and more about repeated exposure to small moments of discomfort.
The SPEAK Framework Makes Participation Easier
Speaking up becomes easier when you have a process. Erin introduces the SPEAK framework: Set up the scene, Preload your line, Enter early, Anchor the room, and Keep building. Together, these strategies reduce hesitation and make participation feel more automatic.
Consistency Changes Your Identity
One courageous moment can boost confidence, but repeated participation changes identity. Erin explores how speaking up consistently reshapes both your self-perception and the way colleagues experience you. Confidence isn't built in a breakthrough moment, it's built in patterns.
Your Freebie
You’re calm, capable, and composed… until things take an unexpected turn (as they tend to do)! This is exactly why we created The Clarity Under Pressure Toolkit: What to Do in the First 5 Minutes of Any Uncertain Situation.
It’s your go-to guide for staying grounded when it matters most. Download it here.
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