๐๐ฎ๐๐ฒ ๐๐ผ๐ ๐ฒ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐๐ฎ๐๐ฐ๐ต๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐ฎ ๐๐ฐ๐ต๐ผ๐ผ๐น ๐ผ๐ณ ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฐ๐ต๐ผ๐๐ถ๐ฒ๐? When they feel threatened, they instinctively form a tight ball, moving together to appear larger and scare predators away. Thereโs no leader, no clear plan. Just a reaction to those around them.
๐ช๐ฒ ๐ผ๐ณ๐๐ฒ๐ป ๐ฏ๐ฒ๐ต๐ฎ๐๐ฒ ๐ถ๐ป ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐๐ฎ๐บ๐ฒ ๐๐ฎ๐. For example Iโve been in meetings where everyone nodded in agreement, and even though I had doubts, I found myself doing the same. Maybe it felt easier, or maybe I assumed others knew better. But afterward, I couldnโt help but wonder: Did I miss a chance to add value?
๐ง๐ผ ๐ณ๐ฎ๐น๐น๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ถ๐ป๐๐ผ ๐๐ต๐ถ๐ ๐๐ฟ๐ฎ๐ฝ ๐ถ๐ ๐พ๐๐ถ๐๐ฒ ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐๐. However when we follow the crowd without questioning, we risk losing something important: our ability to think critically, act with intention, and contribute meaningfully to the conversation.
๐ช๐ต๐ฎ๐ ๐ถ๐ณ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐๐ต๐ผ๐๐ด๐ต๐ ๐ ๐ต๐ฒ๐น๐ฑ ๐ฏ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ธ ๐๐ฎ๐ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ฝ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐๐ฝ๐ฒ๐ฐ๐๐ถ๐๐ฒ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐๐ฒ๐ฎ๐บ ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐น๐น๐ ๐ป๐ฒ๐ฒ๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ฑ?
I donโt have a magic formula for this. But Iโve started paying closer attention to my own patterns, those moments during meetings when I hesitate, or more often, in the side conversations afterward. Itโs in those moments that I realize I could have shared something valuable; or at least another perspective to consider.
ย And honestly, commenting outside the meeting or conversation often feels pointless. By then, the moment to make an impact has likely already passed.
๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐ฎ ๐ณ๐ฒ๐ ๐๐ต๐ผ๐๐ด๐ต๐๐ ๐๐ต๐ฎ๐ ๐บ๐ถ๐ด๐ต๐ ๐ต๐ฒ๐น๐ฝ ๐ถ๐ณ ๐๐ผ๐ ๐ณ๐ถ๐ป๐ฑ ๐๐ผ๐๐ฟ๐๐ฒ๐น๐ณ ๐ฐ๐ฎ๐๐ด๐ต๐ ๐ถ๐ป ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฐ๐ต๐ผ๐๐ ๐ฏ๐ฎ๐น๐น:
๐๐ถ๐๐๐ฒ๐ป ๐๐ผ ๐๐ผ๐๐ฟ๐๐ฒ๐น๐ณ: When youโre in a group, pause and ask yourself: Am I agreeing because I genuinely believe this, or because itโs easier to stay silent?
๐๐ผ๐ปโ๐ ๐ณ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฟ ๐๐๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ผ๐๐: Fear often keeps us quiet. But what if sharing your idea could spark something valuable? Whatโs the worst that could happen?
๐ฉ๐ฎ๐น๐๐ฒ ๐ฑ๐ถ๐ณ๐ณ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ป๐ ๐ผ๐ฝ๐ถ๐ป๐ถ๐ผ๐ป๐: Teams thrive when diverse ideas are welcomed. Some of the best solutions come from questioning the obvious.
๐๐ถ๐๐ฎ๐ด๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฒ ๐๐ต๐ผ๐๐ด๐ต๐๐ณ๐๐น๐น๐: Disagreeing doesnโt have to lead to conflict. When done with care and respect, it can lead to better decisions and stronger trust.
๐๐ฒ ๐๐ฒ๐น๐ณ-๐ฎ๐๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐๐ฟ๐๐๐ ๐๐ผ๐๐ฟ๐๐ฒ๐น๐ณ: Notice if we are just following the crowd. Itโs okay to say something wrong or feel others know better (wonder if is that's true or just perception). Simply ask yourself, โWhy am I agreeing?โ This small step makes a big difference.
Looking back to these moments, I donโt regret the times I spoke up. I definitively regret the times I stayed silent.ย
Growth happens when we embrace diversity of thought, when we have the courage to add our voice to the mix, even when it feels uncomfortable.
Are you tired of swimming with the crowd like an anchovy, holding back your unique perspectives? Connect with Nicola Arnese for transformative coaching that empowers you to find and express your authentic voice. Through personalized business coaching, talent coaching, or dynamic group coaching sessions, discover how to move beyond the comfort of silent agreement to meaningful career growth. Whether you're hesitating in meetings or seeking to make a bigger impact, our coaching partnership will help you develop the confidence to stand out thoughtfully. Schedule your complimentary, no-obligation session today and explore how to transform those moments of hesitation into opportunities for leadership and growth. Let's work together to ensure your valuable perspectives don't go unheard.