How To Speak Up When You Aren’t The Expert

Not being an expert at work comes in several different forms. Maybe you are in a meeting and aren’t an expert in the subject matter, but still, have something to say. Or maybe you’ve just been assigned a new role and know a bit about what’s going on, but not fully just yet. 

Just because you don’t know something 100%, it doesn’t mean you can’t speak up. 

Your voice is still valuable as it signals you’re present and would like to participate.

Below are 3 strategies:

1. LISTEN

If you aren’t the expert, you’ll want to make sure you are actively listening before you speak. It is always better to gather all of the information before you interject.

Practicing active listening will help you speak up with authority. Here are some tips to elevate your listening skills:

• Listen To Understand – If you are leading a team and you aren’t sure what each person’s role entails, ask them. When you listen to understand you are allowing your team to give you the necessary information.
• Take Notes – One way to show you are actively listening is by taking notes. If you are leading a large team, keeping notes to help you navigate when to best speak up can be helpful. 
• Respond – Active listening requires a response. Paraphrasing what the speaker has said can show you were listening to them. 

💡We recommend the e-course “Improving Your Listening Skills” to learn more about ways to improve your active listening skills.

As a team leader, you will have to speak up so it is important for you to listen and gather all of the information ahead of time. Speaking up at work is imperative for career success visibility. 

2. ADMIT WHAT YOU DON’T KNOW

You don’t have to know everything. Your team and your co-workers are there so you don’t have to. Admitting what you don’t know can help you fill in the gap and let your team or co-workers shine.  

• Fill In The Gaps – When you approach your team, being transparent can go a long way. 
• Let Them Shine – Everyone should be praised for their hard work. Great leaders aren’t afraid to let their teams shine.

You don’t have to be the expert. In fact, it is almost impossible for you to be the expert in every aspect of your company. And that’s okay! Knowing how to fill in the gaps will help you when you do need to speak up.  

3. REMEMBER YOUR VALUE

You have value! There is a reason you were put in a management position. There is a reason you are working in your current position. While you won’t always be the expert, this doesn’t mean you can’t speak up. Your observations, opinions, and conclusions about strategies, protocols, and workflow still matter.

There are a few ways you can help yourself if you are struggling to speak up:

• Track Your Success – Have you recently, or in the past put together new strategies to help streamline the workflow? Did you land a new client? These are examples of successes. 
• Your Experience – You may not be the expert, but this doesn’t mean you don’t have relevant experience to weigh in on the subject. 
• Be Confident – Confidence is key when it comes to speaking up! Even if you aren’t the expert, you will want to be confident in your delivery. Being a confident communicator is a skill you can learn. 

Though speaking up when you aren’t the expert can be scary, your experience has value. You just need to connect your past experience to your current role. This will give your message more authority.

To read the full article click here!

Join us for an exciting Soulcast Media | LIVE on Wednesday, May 11th. This event is FREE to attend! RSVP for your spot here!

__________________________________________________________________________

This article is part of the Soulcast Media Newsletter, which has over 8,000+ subscribers. If you like this article, feel free to subscribe.

Be sure to follow Jessica Chen on LinkedIn and Instagram for regular communications tips you can use at work immediately! Her videos can also be seen on YouTube.

If you'd like to learn more about our communications services and how we work with individuals and companies, check out our website: www.soulcastmedia.com.