{"id":83864,"date":"2024-10-23T03:53:00","date_gmt":"2024-10-23T07:53:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/isarta.com\/news\/?p=83864"},"modified":"2024-11-02T18:07:31","modified_gmt":"2024-11-02T22:07:31","slug":"silent-intimidation-how-to-assert-yourself-in-meetings-with-strong-personalities","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/isarta.com\/news\/silent-intimidation-how-to-assert-yourself-in-meetings-with-strong-personalities\/","title":{"rendered":"Silent Intimidation: How to Assert Yourself in Meetings with Strong Personalities"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

As an introvert, it\u2019s not always easy to assert your ideas (no matter how good they are!) in a meeting\u2014especially when faced with strong personalities that dominate the conversation or, at times, engage in \u201csilent intimidation.\u201d What techniques can you use to break free from the passive role you’ve taken on? We discussed this with Linda Valade, author of a book on Silent Intimidation<\/em> and a specialist in non-verbal communication.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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  1. Mind Your Posture<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    Let\u2019s start with what depends on you\u2014what you can do before even considering what others are doing around you. Linda Valade advises preparing for your intervention by paying close attention to your posture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    Before speaking, you can adopt a confident, upright posture while physically occupying space. \u201cI place my feet firmly on the ground, shoulder-width apart. I open my shoulders, clear my vital organs, and place my hands on the table or on my hips,\u201d she enumerates.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

    This may seem trivial, but it\u2019s backed by science. In 2013, a Harvard researcher showed that if an individual adopts a confident posture for 120 seconds, their testosterone levels increase by 20% while cortisol (the stress hormone) decreases by 25%.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    \u201cThis is extremely powerful,\u201d the consultant emphasizes. \u201cWhen we take such a posture, something happens in our brain. It\u2019s far from insignificant,\u201d she explains.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

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    1. Prepare Your Contribution<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

      The second approach is preparation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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      If you know the meeting will cover a certain topic, it\u2019s helpful to note two or three points you want to contribute to the discussion. \u201cThis allows you to have a structure in mind. If someone\u2019s gaze destabilizes me, I can regain my focus by referring back to my notes,\u201d she advises.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

      When it\u2019s your turn to speak, Linda Valade suggests announcing the parameters of your intervention (\u201cThere are two points I\u2019d like to address\u201d) to ensure you maintain \u201cthe floor\u201d until the end of your speech, thus avoiding interruptions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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      1. Look for Allies<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

        When it\u2019s your turn to speak, it\u2019s not the time to worry about what you\u2019re doing right or wrong, or to be overly concerned about your posture. The best way to disconnect from your audience? Allow too much space for your \u201cinternal dialogue.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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        \u201cIf you\u2019re talking to yourself while addressing your audience, it will be very difficult to be engaging. To captivate your audience, you must be 100% in the moment. Communication is never one-way; it\u2019s always a two-way mechanism.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

        The consultant suggests that the speaker scan the room. On one hand, you can identify those who \u201caren\u2019t listening\u201d and try to engage them. More importantly, it\u2019s a chance to see who your allies are.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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        \u201cWhen you speak, your allies can be very helpful. By scanning the room, you might notice those leaning forward, nodding, and listening attentively. Looking at these individuals can boost your confidence and give you some courage.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

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        1. Address Inappropriate Behaviors<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

          Despite these first three tips, you may still encounter strong personalities who try to intimidate you in \u201csilent\u201d ways. How? By rolling their eyes, sighing, interrupting you, or encroaching on your personal space…<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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          One strategy is to name the inappropriate behavior of the individual. If someone interrupts you, you can simply say, \u201cI\u2019ll give you the floor when I\u2019m finished,\u201d thereby addressing their inappropriate behavior. \u201cIt becomes much harder for them to interrupt you again.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

          These techniques, of course, require practice. The support of a manager who is attentive to these situations can also make a significant difference. Speaking up is not an absolute right\u2014it\u2019s something to be shared with kindness and consideration.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

          As an introvert, it\u2019s not always easy to assert your ideas in a meeting. What techniques can you use to break free from the passive role you’ve taken on? We discussed this with Linda Valade, author of a book on Silent Intimidation and a specialist in non-verbal communication.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":88,"featured_media":83865,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[4,3],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/isarta.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/83864"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/isarta.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/isarta.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/isarta.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/88"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/isarta.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=83864"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/isarta.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/83864\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":83880,"href":"https:\/\/isarta.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/83864\/revisions\/83880"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/isarta.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/83865"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/isarta.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=83864"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/isarta.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=83864"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/isarta.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=83864"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}