Why Your Team Needs You to Speak Up
You have something to say but don't want to be that person.
You know, the one who doesn't know when to stop talking.
The one who takes up too much space. Too much air-time.
I've been hearing this a lot lately. Smart, experienced, value-adding people who have brilliant contributions to make to conversations, but who hold themselves back in their desire to be seen as:
A team player
Inclusive
Aligned
A good listener
Vs.
Dominating
Controversial
The handbrake
Difficult
But here's the thing: If you're worried about taking up too much space, it's HIGHLY unlikely you're the energy-vampire in the room.
We need to hear your voice.
When valuable team members consistently hold back their insights, the entire group suffers. What feels like respectful restraint to you might actually be depriving your colleagues of the diverse perspectives that drive innovation and better decision-making.
I see this pattern repeatedly in leadership development sessions. The most thoughtful contributors often become the most reluctant speakers, creating a paradox where the voices we need most are the ones we hear least.
Your different opinion? It's exactly the fresh thinking needed for creativity to emerge.
Your doubts and concerns? They're just what the team needs to double-check their ideas.
Your challenging question? It's the pattern-interrupt needed to get out of group-think.
This reluctance to contribute isn't just about politeness. It's rooted in deeper psychological patterns that affect team effectiveness. Many professionals worry that speaking up will disrupt team harmony or label them as difficult. But research consistently shows that psychological safety and diverse input are hallmarks of high-performing teams.
The irony is that those who worry most about being "too much" are often the ones who bring the most value when they do speak up. They've already done the internal work of considering different angles, weighing their words, and thinking through potential impacts.
Effective leadership isn't just about knowing when to speak, it's about creating environments where everyone's best thinking can emerge. When you hold back a valuable insight because you're afraid of seeming pushy, you're not just silencing yourself. You're potentially allowing groupthink to take hold, missing opportunities for innovation, and depriving your team of the cognitive diversity that leads to better outcomes.
The most successful teams I work with have learned to distinguish between productive contribution and dominating behavior. They understand that thoughtful challenge and constructive disagreement are signs of engagement, not disrespect.
Your contribution has the power to shift entire conversations. That question you're hesitating to ask? It might be the same one three other people are thinking but not voicing. That concern you're keeping to yourself? It could prevent a costly mistake or reveal a blind spot the team hasn't considered.
When you model the courage to speak up thoughtfully, you give permission for others to do the same. This creates a positive feedback loop where team dynamics improve, communication becomes more authentic, and decision-making becomes more robust.
So next time you have something you need to say but find yourself holding back in case it makes you seem too much, please don't.
Say it.
Consider this: you’re in your role because of your expertise, your perspective, and your ability to contribute meaningfully. When you consistently hold back your best thinking, you're not serving the team, you're shortchanging them.
The key is finding the balance between contributing meaningfully and dominating the conversation. Ask yourself: "Is this comment adding to this conversation or taking away from it? If the answer is adding, even if that means temporarily slowing things down, then your team deserves to hear it.
Chances are you're elevating the quality of thinking in the room.
And who doesn't need a bit more of that from time to time?
Remember: effective team collaboration isn't about minimizing your presence, it's about maximizing your positive impact. Your voice matters, your insights are valuable, and your team is stronger when you use them both.