The Confidence to Be Heard: How to Get Your Ideas Across
Ever sat in a meeting with a brilliant idea in your head… and then watched the moment slip by? Or shared a thought that didn’t land the way you hoped? You’re not alone.
Speaking up at work and making sure your ideas are really heard sn’t always easy. Whether you’re at the start of your career or already sitting at the leadership table, the challenge is the same: how do you cut through the noise, get people to listen, and make an impact?
Here are some practical ways to make it happen, inspired by wisdom from the Meat Business Women community.
1. Frame it in terms of value
People listen more when they understand why an idea matters. Don’t just share what you think - share the impact.
➡️ Instead of: “I think we should trial this new process.”
➡️ Try: “If we trial this new process, we could cut waste by 10% and save the team two hours a week.”
Tip for senior leaders: Don’t assume the value of your idea is obvious because of your title. Spell it out in terms of business outcomes, people impact, or alignment to strategy.
2. Back it up with stories
A short story or example makes your point stick. Our brains remember stories far better than abstract concepts.
Prepare one concrete example from your experience (or recent project) that illustrates the problem or opportunity. That makes it real.
Use data plus narrative: “Here’s what happened last year / at another site / in our customers’ feedback, and here’s how your suggestion could shift things.”
3. Choose your moment
Timing matters. If you know a big decision is coming, prepare your points in advance and think about when to share them. Sometimes being the first voice sets the tone; other times, waiting until the discussion has warmed up helps your point land better.
Don’t wait for a “perfect moment” that may never come. Practise speaking up early in meetings, even if it’s just to agree or ask a question. That way, when your big idea comes, your voice is already in the room.
And if you're leading the meeting, model this behaviour by inviting quieter voices in. Creating space for others shows your own confidence and builds trust in your leadership.
4. Deliver with confidence (even if you don’t feel it)
Confidence is as much about how you deliver your message as the message itself. Clear, calm, concise. Non-verbals matter too: eye contact, steady tone, a pause to let your point land.
Chantelle Burdett, Sofina Site Operations Lead, said:
“You have to be seen as confident – not just for yourself, but so your team and stakeholders could trust I was a safe pair of hands.”
And she’s right - sometimes “looking confident” is half the battle.
Practice concise wording by saying what you mean clearly. Use pause before and after key lines so people hear them.
As a leader, your tone, body language, even emails count. Be clear, be steady. You don’t need to fill silence - sometimes impact comes from saying less but saying it well.
Quick tip: Slow your pace slightly. It makes you sound measured and in control.
The takeaway
Having great ideas is one thing. Making sure they’re heard and acted on is where confidence comes in. By framing your ideas clearly, telling a story, choosing your moment, and delivering with confidence, you can make sure your voice cuts through, no matter where you are in your career.
So next time you’ve got something to say? Speak up. Because your ideas deserve to be heard!
