Sorry, but I have an idea: Let your voice be heard

You might have read a study about women having weekend appointments with a drama teacher. They would recite details of their past week, while picking up a cup from a table and putting them down. And they would do it again. They slow down, maintain eye contact with the teacher, and speak clearly. Welcome to another session of How to Get Heard in Meetings course! Before you suspect sexism in the workplace, look at it thoughtfully. It might be possible that we're living in the appraisal culture, where one employee tries his (or her) darn best to be heard during a meeting at the expense of his (or her) colleagues. It seems like a heartless gesture, but you haven't seen a single episode of "The Apprentice".

Keep in mind that your performance in the office will speak for itself. If you're competent enough, then there's no need to worry if your voice won't be heard during a meeting. You also don't need to be paranoid about the workplace. (Office politics do exist, but conspiracy theory will be a stretch of an imagination.) Here are five tips:

You don't need to be a superhero to be noticed. There's nothing wrong if you're hooked to superheroes, but don't try to act like one in the office. You may be sending the wrong message to your colleagues. Moreover, it might affect your performance. Keep your cool. Do your job.

It's all about timing. You suggest an idea to your boss, but you're aghast at what happens next. No one seems to remember your words several minutes later. And then your colleague repeats the same words, which makes everyone turn their heads. Life may be unfair, but don't be melodramatic about the situation. Perhaps the body language of your colleague is the key. You might be an introvert, but this shouldn't make you upset for the rest of the day. Think of something else. It should be better. And you don't have to say it during the next meeting.

Speak clearly. Say it right, and let your message be heard. You don't have to raise your voice. There's no need to be emotional about it. And it will pointless to think of the possible outcome. Keep a positive attitude, and don't say more (unless you must elaborate on it).

The secret to a good teamwork is being nice. This shouldn't surprise anyone, as a pleasant (working) environment will motivate anyone. And nothing beats a good (working) relationship with your colleagues. You would learn about it in the university, and you wouldn't worry about the others. It comes down to your performance, as you might not recall the first tip.

Pay attention. If you don't have a chance to speak out, then make sure you're listening to what others are saying (during the meeting). You might have a new idea (or suggestion) later, and you can tell your boss about it. (Timing. Don't forget timing.) But you'll have another meeting the day after next.

Do you have other suggestions? Tell us.