Having the confidence and ability to speak up at work is quite a critical situation for a lot many reasons. It’s important on a personal level as it can directly impact your career in either a positive or a negative way. If you do it correctly, it can uplift your career and workplace happiness. But if you do it inappropriately, it can have negative effects not only on your career but also on people around you. Hence, we thought of sharing on ways you can speak up at work without being offensive.
02/6Be very clear
This is the key to speaking up without sounding offensive. You need to make your opinion known or ask for what you want in an extremely clear manner without demeaning the other person. Don’t play with your high and low pitches, keep your voice as normal as you can.
03/6Stay calm and collected
There are times when you state an opinion and the conversation starts to heat up. The difference of opinion is natural at work. But you need to focus on being very calm and collected in any and every situation. If you think the other person’s behaviour is getting in your way, continue the discussion only when you have calmed yourself down a little again.
04/6Prepare yourself
Everyone tends to feel a lot more confident when they are prepared. This works like a charm each time to want to make a serious conversation at work. Be it a new project idea or a raise that you want to talk about, always come prepared. It makes you sound firm and confident with what you want and you also know your choice of words.
05/6Use your body language to your advantage
When you have to state what you want at work, you need to make sure you are using positive body language. Keep your posture straight and use open body language. Look at the person right in the eyes and don’t clench your jaw or tighten your facial muscles. Smile from time to time and it will surely help you sound better.
06/6Be comfortable saying No
Having the ability to say no will actually help you speak up at work without meaning to be offensive. There are times when your immediate manager or boss keeps burdening you with more and more work. If you consistently keep getting more than a fair share of work, be comfortable saying no.