Today on the blog I’m delighted to welcome Mair Garland, a member of the Pints and Purpose community and a public speaking expert, sharing her wisdom and practical tips for speaking up and taking space. I’m deeply passionate about raising up all voices so if you’d like to pitch a blog that you believe our audience of female and NB entrepreneurs could benefit from, please scroll to the end for the link to contact me. In the meantime, take it away Mair!

If you get nervous about taking up space in meetings and find yourself getting frustrated you didn’t get to put your brilliant points across, this is the blog for you. 

Here I’ll share some top tips to help you find your voice and express yourself with confidence. Spoiler alert: the key to finding success is all in the preparation. 

1.    Pre-Match Rituals

Do you have any calming rituals for before and during big meetings, pitches or speeches? For me, the calmer I am beforehand, the more comfortable and confident I’ll feel when I walk into the room – and the more successful I’ll be at getting my point across. 

I’ll try a 10-minute mindfulness exercise on my phone the morning of the meeting and ground myself by anchoring my feet to the floor once I’m there. 

Also, is there anything that will make you more stressed or throw you off your game? While I love a flat white, caffeine can make my pre-meeting nerves a lot worse, so I stick to a peppermint tea on days when I really need to be at my best. 

Try experimenting with some different approaches to find what brings you calm and focus on big meeting days.

2.    Prepare with Purpose

If you’ve been given any materials ahead of a meeting, then I’m sure you’ll already be doing your homework and familiarising yourself with them. 

As you read, do any questions spring to mind? Are there any questions you can answer? Can you share additional insight based on your experience? 

Make a note of all your ideas and questions and bring the list with you. You could order them by priority and highlight the most important ones – then give yourself the challenge of not leaving the room until you’ve voiced at least that top point! Saying your ideas out loud beforehand can also help you articulate them clearly in the moment. 

Consider giving the meeting chair a heads-up about anything you’d like to raise. They may appreciate knowing when you’d like to speak and can help make space for you. 

3.    Engage with Intention

Active listening is often more powerful than being the loudest voice in the room. Stay present, listen closely and take note of anything that sparks a question or idea. And, if you can, turn off those distracting notifications!

Asking thoughtful questions is a great way to make a positive contribution, especially if you’re feeling short on points but still want your voice to be heard.

If a question or thought comes to you after the meeting, don’t be afraid to send a quick follow-up note. This shows initiative and can help deepen relationships and increase your impact beyond the event. 

4.    Authenticity over Imitation

One surefire way of making your voice heard is remembering to use your voice – you don’t need to try and look or sound like anyone else to make a great impression.

Maybe you’re great at summarising ideas, asking astute questions or making connections others haven’t noticed. By playing to your strengths, you’ll feel and come across more confidently, and you’ll be able to put your point across with clarity and conviction. 

You don’t need to sound like anyone else to be effective. Being confident in using your voice, knowledge and unique perspective is what will set you apart.  

Ultimately, confidence in business isn’t about being the loudest person in the room – it’s about being prepared, present and true to yourself. By finding rituals that calm and ground you, doing your homework beforehand, staying engaged in meetings and embracing your unique voice, you’ll start to take up space with more ease and impact. 

It takes practice, but with every meeting you’ll start building the confidence to speak up and make your contribution count. Your voice matters – don’t be afraid to use it. 

Need help in finding your voice and putting your brilliant ideas across? Whether you’re preparing for a meeting with your most important stakeholders or your first keynote speech, I can help. 

Check out Mair on our directory of female + NB entrepreneurs, visit Mair’s website or email me to start the conversation.

If you’d like to pitch and write a blog for the Pints and Purpose website, please head here to share your ideas.

Pints and Purpose is a community of female and NB entrepreneurs, business owners and freelancers based in south east London. We hold monthly meetups in local pubs. You can book tickets and find out more about us here.