What do you do if your ideas and solutions aren't being heard in meetings?

Like market research, get to know your meeting attendees' interests, priorities, and concerns. This insight allows you to tailor your ideas in a way that resonates, ensuring you’re heard and understood.

In my experience, the key to having your ideas heard and valued in meetings is a two-pronged approach: I'd like to point out proactive preparation and effective communication during the discussion. This can be summed up as follows:- Get Heard in Meetings: Prepare & Communicate Effectively Before: Review agenda, propose ideas if relevant, research topic. During: Choose the right moments, focus on value & benefits (data!), and be concise, visuals can help. Collaboration is Key: Listen to feedback, present ideas collaboratively, and refine based on input. Don't Give Up: Rejection is normal, adapt & re-present later.

In my experience Step 1: Self-Reflection & Adaptation I start by comparing my approach to those of colleagues whose ideas are well-received, reflecting on any differences. Seeking their advice, I adapt my strategy to improve how I communicate my ideas, aiming to boost their visibility and impact. Step 2: Facilitate a Targeted Discussion Should these personal adjustments fall short, I then initiate a focused conversation with the team. In this meeting, I detail the steps I’ve taken to enhance my contributions and solicit feedback on how we can collectively improve our communication practices. This openness not only showcases my commitment to personal growth but also encourages a team culture where every voice is heard and valued.

No Matter what, Change has to happen. Let's get that out of the way first. it may be that they lack respect for your opinion. that's definitely happened to me; here's what to do: Figure out their objectives, needs, preferences, and the challenges they face. I also consider how they make decisions, process information, and their preferred ways of communicating and receiving feedback. If you can talk with someone and not at them, you will be heard.

If your ideas and solutions aren't being heard in meetings, it's important to take proactive steps to ensure that your contributions are recognized and valued. Consider your approach to presenting ideas: engage actively in discussions, ask clarifying questions, and seek feedback to demonstrate your commitment and expertise. Additionally, seek allies within the team who can help advocate for your proposals. It's also crucial to be resilient and persistent. Don't be discouraged if your ideas aren't immediately accepted; continue to refine and reinforce your suggestions. If despite these efforts your ideas continue to go unheard, consider that the time has come for change.

Listen to your audience carefully and understand the problem presented. When presenting your solution use data to support your argument and highlight risks associated with not taking your suggested course of action.

Design your message with the precision of planning a critical experiment. It should clearly highlight the value and relevance of your ideas to the team's objectives.

Las técnicas de tonalidad de voz pueden ayudarte mucho para saber esos momentos claves para captar la atención, tenerlos involucrados en cualquier momento.

Según mi experiencia, es importante captar las necesidades que puedan estar presentando los/as miembros de la reunión y las temáticas más importantes para ellos/as, para desde ahí elaborar una opinión que les interese.

Define the core message: identify the main point you want to convey. Set Objective: Determine your goal (inform, persuade, or request support). Tailor to Audience: Adjust for their knowledge and interests. Structure Clearly: introduce, detail, and conclude with a clear call to action. Use Examples: Make points relatable with stories or analogies. Highlight Benefits: Emphasize advantages for your audience. Be Concise: Avoid jargon and unnecessary details. Practice Delivery: Ensure confidence and clarity. Prepare for Questions: Anticipate and respond to audience queries. Use Visual Aids: Support with visuals if helpful. Show passion: Demonstrate commitment to your message.

Present your ideas confidently and clearly. Employ storytelling and visual aids to strengthen your case, ensuring your delivery captivates and convinces your audience.

Deliver your message with confidence and enthusiasm, using clear language and appropriate tone. Utilize effective non-verbal cues such as eye contact, gestures, and modulation of voice to engage your audience and emphasize key points, while encouraging interaction through questions and feedback.

Dependiendo de tu audiencia debes de ser corto y conciso en los mensajes, no dar información de más que pueda confundir a la audiencia o pérdida de interés. Si de nueva cuenta, las tonalidades de voz influyen mucho, inclusive las pequeñas pausas o silencios harán que esa audiencia que estaba pérdida por segundos, vuelva a poner atención.

Al transmitir el mensaje, considero fundamental ser preciso y claro, así como directo y honesto, para que se entienda cuál es tu objetivo. Asimismo, es importante mirar a los ojos, con determinación pero al mismo tiempo apertura, para así mostrar claridad y flexibilidad, lo que invitará al diálogo.

Meetings can be a minefield for impactful communication. Strike When the Iron's Hot: ⏱️ Don't force your ideas in. Wait for natural pauses or request dedicated time when people are most receptive. Be Prepared to Win: Anticipate objections and gather data to support your arguments. Show you've done your homework. Speak with Conviction: ️ Don't be shy! Voice your ideas confidently during appropriate moments. Project belief in their worth. Body Language Matters: Maintain eye contact, sit up straight, and use purposeful gestures to emphasize key points.

Al practicar la escucha activa, la empatía y la validación en tus interacciones, podrás manejar las objeciones y preguntas de manera respetuosa y constructiva, lo que facilitará la resolución de conflictos, la toma de decisiones informadas y el fortalecimiento de las relaciones interpersonales.

Approach objections and questions positively and proactively. Use them as opportunities to further clarify and strengthen your position, demonstrating your adaptability to problem-solving.

Tomarlo de forma positiva y creativa, aunque no concuerdes. Tu inteligencia emocional es clave para no responder por reacción, inclusive si se requiere preparar o elaborar una respuesta más concreta y convencedora, es válido pedir regresar lo más pronto posible con la misma.

Listen fully. Pay complete attention without interrupting. Acknowledge Concerns: Validate the speaker's viewpoint. Clarify if needed: Ask for clarification to ensure understanding. Respond positively: Answer in a constructive manner. Use Evidence: Support your response with facts or data. Stay Calm: Maintain a professional tone and demeanor. Invite Further Discussion: Suggest a detailed discussion post-presentation. Practice active listening: summarize points before responding. Keep Focused: Steer conversation back to the main message. Prepare in advance: Anticipate and prepare your responses to potential questions.

Handle objections and questions respectfully by listening empathetically, acknowledging viewpoints, reframing objections as opportunities, providing evidence, and restating benefits while reinforcing your call to action, fostering constructive dialogue and overcoming skepticism.

After the meeting, be proactive, like a diligent student seeking feedback on a term paper. Send an email summarizing your points and next steps, showing your dedication to seeing your ideas through.

Follow up post-meeting with a concise summary and key takeaways, expressing gratitude and offering assistance. Monitoring progress, providing feedback, and maintaining communication enhance trust, rapport, and influence.

¿Es válido solicitar a la audiencia hacer un resumen en un par de puntos? Si, aunque es preferible que tú tomes ese rol y con sus gestos te percatarás si están compaginados, además de meter al juego a los que estaban distraídos.

Follow Up is Key: If your ideas aren't immediately embraced, don't give up! Follow up with key stakeholders for deeper discussion. Seek Feedback and Adapt: Ask for constructive criticism to understand why your ideas might not be resonating. Refine your approach for next time.

Thank You Note: Quickly thank attendees for their time. Summary and Actions: Summarize key points and outline next steps. Provide Resources: Share additional supporting materials if needed. Request Feedback: Ask for input on the meeting's effectiveness. Address Questions: Follow up on any unresolved queries. Schedule Further Meetings: Propose times for any needed follow-up discussions. Open Communication: Encourage ongoing dialogue for further questions or ideas. Monitor Progress: Regularly check the status of action items and assist as necessary.

Thanks to modern technology, humans now tend to have a very short attention span. - Try to communicate in three sentences. - Use shorter sentences, typically under 10 words - Use diagrams for complex thoughts. - Position propositions as questions, instead of opinions. - Always best to have pre-alignment before the meeting

Distinguish between not being heard and being rejected. Don't take it personally. Your audience, likely, has access to information you do not and has priorities that you may not be privy to. Your idea may seem great to you, but may fail in criteria you didn't even know existed. If your idea is rejected, it doesn't necessarily mean it was bad. It could just be not aligned with current company priorities. Don't be threatened - you are still a valuable member of the team. Don't be discouraged - if your input is solicited, it is valuable.

You can always go for one-on-one conversations. Engaging with your colleagues individually can help build support for your ideas before presenting them to a larger group. This can also help you find issues with the project before it gets public.

Don't be discouraged if your ideas aren't immediately accepted. Keep advocating for them in a respectful and professional manner, and be open to refining or adjusting your approach based on feedback. Remember that influencing others and getting your ideas heard often requires persistence, patience, and a willingness to adapt your communication style to different situations and audiences.

I think it’s very important when communicating your idea, you must first grab your audience’s attention eg “I believe that I might have a solution to this problem that we haven’t thought about yet”. And secondly quickly follow that with “and I would like to get your thoughts on the pros and cons”. In this way, you are promoting a dialogue rather than just throwing an idea out there to be dismissed or ignored.