Snack 9: Dare to Speak Up: The Leadership Skill You’re Overlooking

Written By Erin Diehl
 
 
 

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Today, we’re talking about why teams hesitate to speak up and how to change that. If you’ve ever felt like your voice doesn’t matter in meetings, that stops now. 

The Problem – Why Teams Aren’t Engaged: 

When a leader asks, “Any questions?” and no one speaks, it’s not because there’s nothing to say. It’s because people don’t feel safe to share. When voices stay silent, innovation stalls, ideas get repetitive, and a few people dominate conversations. 

The Solution – The Wrong Answers Only Challenge: 

At your next meeting, challenge yourself (or your team) to go first—but start with a deliberately wrong answer. 

Example: If someone asks, “How should we improve client engagement?” 

You say: “Let’s start responding to emails in Morse code.” 

Or if your boss asks, “How do we cut costs?” 

You respond: “Sell our office chairs and replace them with bean bags.” 

Why? Removing the pressure to be right makes it easier to contribute. It also lightens the mood and gets people thinking more creatively. When you practice this exercise regularly, it will overflow into the moments when you’re not practicing it—creating a culture that’s not afraid to share, speak up, and contribute creative solutions. 

Journal Prompts to chew on: 

  • When have I held back from sharing an idea? Why? 

  • How can I bring more playfulness to work conversations? 

  • Has a wrong answer ever led me to a breakthrough? 

And if you’re interested in taking one small action right now, you can check out our newest freebie, The 5-Minute Team Commitment Reset here. Use this plug-and-play exercise at the start of any meeting to get your team mentally present, engaged, and committed.

No, You Hang Up First (Let’s Keep Connecting) 

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Connect with Erin Diehl x improve it! 

 
Erin Diehl
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Episode 285: Redefining Family: A Candid Talk on Secondary Infertility