If you're like me, you're tempted to speak up on a topic that you feel strongly about. You want to contribute to the conversation. You're told your whole life that you deserve to be heard.
Here's the thing: there are people who are told otherwise. They are told that they don't have a voice, that their opinions don't matter, that they should just shut up and stay low.
In most conversations, there are always these two types of people: the over-speaker and the under-speaker. Or, there can be a third type: the facilitator.
The facilitator usually has a lot to contribute, like the over-speaker, but consciously chooses to delay their opinions so the under-speakers can speak up.
Sometimes, you have to lower your voice to empower others.
This is crucial to know for a leader. People have the misconception that a leader must speak first or speak most. Neither is true. The leader's job is to create an environment for great ideas to emerge from any member.
Hence, good leaders speak last. Here's what it looks like:
Leader A: "Here's the problem. This is what I think: ABC. What do you all think?"
Leader B: "Here's the problem. What do you all think? Listen You got A, you spoke about D. This is what I think: ABCD."
Do you see the difference? One sets up barriers. One invites participation.
We all deserve to be heard. We all have a voice. And there are some people who need it a little more than you.