How to Reclaim Thought Leadership in a Meeting

You’re a smart woman with ideas working in tech / finance / a male-dominated industry.

You attend meetings with your mostly male colleagues.

You share your idea.

But no one seems to hear it.

Even worse, at the end of a long-winded discussion, one of the guys shares what sounds EXACTLY like your idea.

If this sort of thing happens to you, you’re not alone.

You’re not crazy.

The challenges of speaking while female are real.

It's disempowering to concede your idea and let someone else take credit.

And it can feel confrontational to say, "Hey, that was my idea!"

So here’s a third option. My client Marianne dubbed this Comedy Night MC method.

Instead of giving in or lashing out, say, "I’m glad you agree with my idea!"

Pretend you’re the MC of Comedy Night at a local pub.

The comic who went before you made the gaffe of repeating your joke.

What a laugh!

Being MC, you’re magnanimous and wise enough to see that imitation is the highest form of flattery.

So say, "Thanks for making my idea more famous!"

Or, 'I'm glad you agree with my idea, and here's how I see we can work together to implement the idea..."

No matter who's said what, regardless of the other guy's seniority or experience, you get to reclaim your thought leadership.

Remember you're in those meetings for a reason. Because you belong there. Because you bring value. Because you ARE a thought leader.

Don't wait for the other guys to give you credit. The waiting game never works.

Choose to give yourself credit with grace and wit.

Your career is your show. And you're the MC.

The mic is in your hand.

Let's use it,
Jamie

P.S. If this is what you want, I can help you. It starts with a complimentary 60-min chat where I will help identify custom strategies for you to become the best spokesperson for your thought leadership.

Book your consult today.