Speaking up can be challenging when others dominate the conversation. It’s essential to express your thoughts confidently in meetings. You definitely don’t want to find yourself in a performance review where your supervisor notes that you ‘don’t contribute.’ But how do you break through when others keep interrupting?

Don’t worry—this doesn’t mean you need to psych yourself up in front of a mirror or become overly aggressive. Confidence can manifest in your own unique style.

Here are some practical tips to help you make your voice heard.

Push Back When Interrupted

According to Soraya Chemaly, there are essential phrases every woman should master:

“Stop interrupting me.”

“I already mentioned that.”

“No further explanation necessary.”

However, using “Stop interrupting me” might be too direct for workplace settings. Prepare some respectful alternatives for those times when someone cuts you off or takes over the discussion.

One approach is to use humor, like saying, “Hold on, I still have something to say.”

Additionally, practice redirecting attention to others who are being interrupted. For example, saying, “Wait, Sameera wasn’t done. Sameera?”

If you consistently support others in this way, when you do it for yourself, you’ll appear attentive and organized rather than self-centered. Plus, some of those you assist may reciprocate when you need it.

Send a Meeting Teaser via Email

If the meeting agenda seems fixed and the organizer overlooks your presence, generate anticipation for your ideas similar to promoting an indie film.

If it’s common in your workplace to “reply all” to meeting reminders, seize the opportunity to reply with something like, “Excited for the meeting! I have some insights on the LogicCorp issue. Can’t wait for everyone’s feedback.”

This builds suspense and makes it awkward if you don’t contribute. You’ve set the stage for your input.

If emailing won’t work, try discussing your ideas informally with colleagues beforehand. Mention, “I’ve got some valuable data that could help us decide on X.” If they ask for details, say, “Let’s save it for the meeting to gather everyone’s thoughts.”

Take Charge of the Agenda

Do you feel like your voice gets drowned out in meetings? Consider taking the lead on the agenda.

Even if you’re the least influential attendee, you can often influence the agenda. If you know who organized the meeting, approach them a few hours before and inquire about the agenda. If their response is vague, suggest, “Great! I’d love to ensure I share my work on [specific topic] so we can coordinate on [related project]. Can we allocate five to ten minutes for that?” Or you might say, “I’d like to provide a status update on X. Can I have a few minutes?”

Frame your request in a way that highlights the importance of your input without sounding too demanding. For instance, expressing a desire to present an “executive-level briefing” on Project X can grab attention. Executive briefings are often associated with significant discussions!

Even if you can’t get that specific, using the term “briefing” helps emphasize the importance of your message, which can help you secure the time you need.