Speaking Up in Meetings in the Executive Assistant Role is a fundamental skill that plays a critical part in our day-to-day roles as Executive Assistants. Meetings serve as a platform for discussing ideas, making decisions, and sharing information. But let’s be honest—while many of us attend these meetings, not all of us feel comfortable actively participating. In this article, we’ll explore how Speaking Up in Meetings in the Executive Assistant Role can help you build confidence, overcome challenges, and truly make your voice heard.

The template you need to maximise the time spent with your Executive.
The 1:1 Meeting Template for Executives and Assistants gives you the steps to ensure that when you have a one-to-one meeting with your Executive, you get through all the work you need to cover and maximise your time together.
Leaning In and Breaking Barriers
We’ve all been there—sitting in a meeting with ideas swirling in our minds but hesitating to share them. Leaning in, a concept popularized by Sheryl Sandberg, is about stepping up and making sure your voice is part of the conversation. For us, Speaking Up in Meetings in the Executive Assistant Role means breaking out of the background and showing just how much value we bring to the table.
Sure, workplace culture, social biases, and even outdated perceptions of the Assistant role can be external barriers. But let’s shift the focus to what we can control: the internal barriers—self-doubt, fear of rejection, or worrying about saying the wrong thing. By tackling these internal challenges, we can grow personally and professionally.
Identifying Your Fears
Let’s take a moment to be real. What holds you back from Speaking Up in Meetings in the Executive Assistant Role? Is it the fear of being wrong, the worry of not knowing enough, or the thought of overstepping? These fears are more common than you might think, and they often stem from self-doubt or uncertainty about where you fit in the hierarchy.
Acknowledging these fears is the first step. Think back to a recent meeting—what stopped you from sharing your thoughts? Was it a lack of confidence or concern about how your input would be received? By identifying these moments, you’re already starting to address the barriers that hold you back.
Fear Setting
Here’s a practical way to tackle those fears: fear setting. Tim Ferriss popularized this technique, and it’s perfect for situations like Speaking Up in Meetings in the Executive Assistant Role:
Define the Fear: Be specific. Are you afraid of being wrong or feeling dismissed?
List Potential Consequences: What’s the worst that could happen if you spoke up? Chances are, it’s not as bad as you think.
Preventive Measures: How can you minimize the risk? Maybe it’s preparing your thoughts in advance or practicing how you’ll phrase them.
Recovery Plan: If things don’t go as planned, how will you recover? We’ve all had moments that didn’t go perfectly, and we bounce back every time.
Cost of Inactivity: What happens if you stay silent? Will you miss out on opportunities to show your value?
Partial Success: Even if your point isn’t fully embraced, what’s the win? Did you share your perspective? Did you contribute?
By working through this process, we can start to reframe our fears and turn them into manageable challenges.
Changing Assumptions
Sometimes, we’re our own biggest critics. When it comes to Speaking Up in Meetings in the Executive Assistant Role, assumptions about what others might think can hold us back. Do you assume your ideas aren’t valuable? Or that your executive or team might not take your input seriously? Challenge those thoughts. We know our roles better than anyone else, and our insights are often exactly what’s needed.
Effective Communication
Now that we’ve tackled the internal stuff, let’s talk about communication. Clarity and directness are key when Speaking Up in Meetings in the Executive Assistant Role. Your executive and team don’t need a long-winded explanation—just a clear, concise point that drives home the value of your perspective.
Deborah Tannen’s work on communication styles highlights the importance of knowing when to be direct. Sometimes, it’s about saying, “Here’s my suggestion…” rather than waiting for the perfect moment. And let’s not forget about tone and body language—confidence shows, even if you’re feeling a little nervous inside.
Strategies for Impactful Communication
If you’re looking for ways to fine-tune your communication, Lee Warren’s strategies are a great place to start:
HAM-PIE: Hearts and Minds, Pictures, Interesting, Emotionally Connect. Think about how your input will resonate. Make it relatable, and connect on a personal level when possible.
PEP: Point, Elaborate, Point. Start with your main idea, back it up with details, and wrap it up succinctly. It’s a structure that keeps everyone focused.
Hook: What’s in it for your audience? Whether it’s your executive, team, or stakeholders, make sure they understand why your point matters.
Let’s face it: Speaking Up in Meetings in the Executive Assistant Role isn’t always easy. But by addressing our fears, questioning our assumptions, and sharpening our communication skills, we can make sure our voices are heard. Remember, your insights and expertise are invaluable—not just to your executive but to the organization as a whole.
Ready to take your communication skills to the next level? Join us for The Confident Communicator course, where you’ll learn practical techniques to speak with clarity, confidence, and impact. Let’s make sure your voice is heard in every room you walk into.