Faith Meets Academia

Episode 45: How to Speak Up and Make an Impact in Meetings

• Dr. Adrian Reynolds

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Have you ever sat in a meeting with brilliant ideas trapped behind your hesitation? That tension between knowing you have something valuable to contribute and finding the courage to speak up is exactly what we tackle in this episode.

Join Dr. A. as he reflects on his own professional journey, and shares how two recent events on the job increased his awareness of how he was showing up differently in meetings: From quietly observing to confidently contributing, Dr. A. introduces  the concept of self-efficacy—your belief in your ability to influence situations and outcomes—and how mastering this mindset can transform your workplace impact.

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DISCLAIMER: The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are solely my own and do not reflect or represent the positions, policies, or opinions of my employer, any organization or academic institution with which I am affiliated. This podcast is a personal initiative, and is not connected to my official/ formal duties and responsibilities as a university professor.

Speaker 1:

Hello, my dear loyal listeners, and welcome back to Faith Meets Academia. We are on episode 45, and guess what? In just about nine days, we will have hit the one-year anniversary of this podcast. Time really flies and if you recall, when I started on this journey, I said listen, there's no turning back, right? And here we are almost at the one-year mark, right? No turning back, the show goes on, and it's been one amazing, transformative journey, as the podcast has helped you in your everyday life, in your career, in your academic work. It has also helped me in my own ministry and in my personal life, in your career, in your academic work. It has also helped me in my own ministry and in my personal life and career. As the good book states in Proverbs 11.25, the generous soul will be made rich, and he who waters will also be watered himself. So, just as you have found these episodes transformative, life-changing, I have found them to be just as impactful in my life as well. All right, so let's get right into it.

Speaker 1:

How to speak up and make an impact in meetings that's our focus for today. That's the topic of conversation, right? Have you ever sat in a meeting knowing you had something invaluable to add, something insightful. But for some reason, you know, maybe, that little voice in your head saying what if this suggestion isn't accepted? What if you know? What if they don't think much of it? What if I get laughed at? Or here's a real common one that my students, you know, often say as to why they don't speak up or give input or ask us questions in class. What if I look stupid in front of everybody else? So in your heart of hearts, you know you have something really important to say, but for any of the above reasons, you decided to hold back, you decided to be silent. Maybe you weren't sure if your input was needed or would be valued, or if anybody would even care. Yeah, I've been there. Yes, dr Adrian Reynolds. Professor Adrian Reynolds has been there.

Speaker 1:

Let me get personal here. I'm going to share a few key experiences with you when it comes to speaking up in meetings and building the confidence to do that. So, on my job, over the years I've been attending a monthly committee meeting, but there's been a key shift that I've noticed right. So in the past I wasn't the most outspoken, not because I didn't care. I mean, I really love what I do, all aspects of it, including the administrative work. But I tended to, in these meetings, observe and listen more than I engaged in the finer details of the deliberations or the conversation.

Speaker 1:

But something changed In this most recent meeting for this committee. I purposefully decided to speak up in the meeting and use my voice to make an impact. I made the decision to be much more engaged, to be more intentional and contribute meaningfully. And let me tell you, I asked one question, just one, one question that sparked a discussion and will very likely lead to some improvements in the curriculum. Later, in that same meeting, I expressed one concern that, based on the response, I am sure will lead to change. Concern that, based on the response, I am sure will lead to change.

Speaker 1:

Two days later, a prospective faculty employee was giving a presentation and once again I found myself speaking up boldly and confidently among my colleagues at this presentation. At three different points during the Q&A, I contributed to the discussion, I asked a question and then there were two instances where I provided some constructive feedback on the presentation. This moment of increased engagement in this meeting that I had been attending regularly made me realize something really important Speaking up isn't just about having a voice, it's about you realizing, being aware of the impact that your voice carries. And then I thought to myself you know why was this moment a turning point? What exactly gave me the confidence to change my approach to engaging in this meeting?

Speaker 1:

There's only one term that came to mind, and that's self-efficacy, or you can also call it self-confidence. There's a psychologist called Albert Bandura, and he describes self-efficacy as your belief in your ability to influence situations and outcomes. Let me repeat that Self-confidence, your belief in your ability to influence situations and outcomes. So all those folks out there who you follow on social media, who you describe as influencers, this is what they have, just in case you didn't know. And you can have it too. I mean, that's what I really want you to know, that you can have this and you can have it too. I mean, that's what I really want you to know that you can have this, you can build this.

Speaker 1:

And so I realized that my own sense of self-efficacy had been building in ways that I hadn't even fully acknowledged or realized. So Bandura describes four primary sources of self-efficacy. Number one, mastery experiences. Secondly, vicarious experiences. Thirdly, social persuasion. And finally, emotional and physiological states. So let me illustrate to you the connection between these concepts and these on-the-job experiences that I just talked about. Now, for purposes of today's episode, we'll focus on all but one of these building blocks for self-efficacy, and that one being vicarious experiences. For a deep dive, for a comprehensive overview of all of these foundational concepts related to self-efficacy, feel free to check out episodes 18 and 19. That's episodes 18 and 19. Four factors that determine your self-confidence parts one and two. So let's start off with mastery experiences.

Speaker 1:

One of the most powerful ways to build self-confidence or self-efficacy is through personal success. A new graduate program that I developed passed its second round of approval. This was a huge milestone that really reinforced my confidence. That success provided undeniable evidence that I have the expertise to influence change undeniable evidence that I have the expertise to influence change. Success builds confidence when we take the time to recognize, to see that indeed our efforts are fruitful, are impactful, are influential if indeed they are, and so often they actually are but we don't recognize them as such. And it's interesting that, even with all the letters behind my name and having been a university professor for almost 10 years, it's only now that I feel like my expertise and the impact of my voice is beginning to have far more impact within my institution than even three or four years ago. Oh, and, in addition to this new graduate program I developed, I've been awarded a grant from a reputable national organization to undertake quite an innovative study. So, taken together, these two accomplishments have significantly influenced the weight, if you will, and impact of my voice in the academic setting, meetings in particular, which is the focus of our discussion here.

Speaker 1:

Now let's move on to this concept of social persuasion. This happens when others encourage and affirm your abilities. So, for example, when I spoke up in the meeting and during the presentation by the prospective faculty, I saw heads nodding, I saw affirming reactions and people taking my suggestions seriously. They were engaged and in their own comments or feedback made reference to my input. And so, of course, this external validation, not just in these instances but over time, has reinforced my belief that my contributions matter.

Speaker 1:

Affirmation from trusted colleagues can help us grow in our own self-confidence. You know, people often say I don't care what people think about me. But that's not entirely true. As human beings we're sort of wired for interpersonal connection and relationships, and what other people think, especially those in our professional or social or faith communities, does influence us. Yes, what others think does influence us, and I mean here's the truth of the matter. Yes, we don't want to necessarily be defined by the opinions of others, but I think we do want to be valued or feel valued and respected, and so you know, there's a balance here. It's not about completely ignoring what others think. It's about choosing whose feedback, affirmation, validation we allow to shape us. You see, we're in the driver's seat. So social persuasion highlights how encouragement or discouragement from others plays a role in building our self-confidence.

Speaker 1:

Now let's talk about how this other building block of self-confidence played out on the job for me emotional and physiological states, you see, our mindset and our emotions, influence what we think about our own abilities. So in both instances, prior to attending that committee meeting and before I went to that presentation, I was coaching myself. I was talking to myself like hey, look, man, like you're going in there to have an impact, like you have something important to say and it's worthwhile, it can shift the conversation, it can influence policy, it can influence decisions. Yes, I know I'm among faculty who have been in their roles much longer than I have, who even have more letters behind their names than I do, but I'm not intimidated. But I'm not intimidated by that? I'm not even thinking about that. I intimidated by that? I'm not even thinking about that. I just know that I have a growing track record of impact that I'm going to build on by speaking up boldly, clearly and confidently. And so when I stepped into that meeting, I stepped in with Proverbs 4.13. I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me. So by standing firm on the word of God, on my faith, and preparation of course, and preparation of course I was able to change my internal dialogue from one of doubt to certainty. So this shift in my self-efficacy, built through experience, affirmation, observation and regulating my own emotions, enabled me to speak up boldly, enabled me to speak with confidence. But then this other thought came to mind how many past opportunities had I missed because I stayed quiet? But you know what? I'm not going to be hard on myself about missed past opportunities. We are where we are. I've learned from the past and this is a new day. I'm moving in the right direction. But that question just popped up in my head.

Speaker 1:

Hey, listen, if you struggle with speaking up, if you ever hesitated to speak up in a meeting or any professional setting. There are a few pointers, there are a few suggestions I have for you. Number one think about past moments when you did give input. How was the input received, even if the idea wasn't fully implemented? Was it considered? Did people acknowledge your perspective? Sometimes we overlook the small wins, and the small wins can add up real quickly to something great. Number two evaluate your relationships with the people in the meeting. How do you engage with them outside of meetings? Building relationships make it easier to contribute because there is this level of trust that's already in place. Think about Proverbs 27, 17. As iron sharpens iron, so a man sharpens the countenance of his friend. So strengthening professional relationships can make your voice more impactful, especially when the stakes are high.

Speaker 1:

Number three are you purposeful in your preparation? Are you preparing for these moments intentionally? Do you know the meeting agenda ahead of time? If assignments, tasks, documents were sent to you beforehand, have you reviewed those? Have you identified areas where you can add value, where you can ask questions for clarification or where you can provide constructive feedback? This can make speaking up feel more natural because you go in prepared. So preparation builds confidence. Don't forget 2 Timothy 2.15. In the King James Version it says Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. So, in other words, think about your studying and your preparation as, first, an activity, a mission that makes God happy, that meets His expectation, and then, of course, as a result of that, you'll meet. You will meet the expectation of others based on your preparation.

Speaker 1:

Number four reframe your fear. So instead of asking I don't know if I'm going to speak up in this meeting, what if I say something wrong? That's like setting up a scenario to not have an impact. Be kind to yourself Like. You deserve better than that right. Shift to a growth mindset. So, rather than asking, well, what if I say something wrong? What if I mess up? You could decide to ask what if my input brings about positive change? What if my input helps to clarify a misunderstanding or a miscommunication or a misinterpretation, etc.

Speaker 1:

Remember, you're on the winning team. We have the Lord on our side. As people of God, we have to stand on His word. Isaiah 41.10 reminds us fear not, for I am with you, be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you. Yes, I will help you. I will uphold you with my righteous right hand In the classroom, in the boardroom, in the meeting room. He is with you. He will strengthen you. You can't forget this.

Speaker 1:

And here's one final suggestion you can start small. If you're not used to speaking up, you don't need to put pressure on yourself to dominate the conversation. Maybe you can just pick one agenda item and offer just one insight or ask one clarifying question, and then over time, this builds and builds and builds and you'll be surprised to see how much more comfortable you are, contributing meaningfully in your work environment. You see, friends, this isn't about who can be the loudest or who can be the most seen in professional settings. It goes way beyond speaking in and of itself. At the core of this is how you see yourself in professional spaces. That's what's going to really determine the weight, the impact of your voice. It's not your tone that's going to determine the impact.

Speaker 1:

Yes, you should sound confident. It's not your tone that's going to determine the impact. Yes, you should sound confident. Yes, you should sound bold. But what is it that will determine that? It's your own self-perception. If you see yourself weak, you will sound weak. If you see yourself strong, you will sound strong. Can you visualize yourself walking into work like you're the boss, even when your paycheck might not look like it. I know this message is for someone today. So, you see, because I've realized that I have my own expertise that can't be compared with anyone else's I'm not waiting for permission to contribute to the conversation. I'm going to do it because I'm worth it.

Speaker 1:

God didn't place you where you are just to be an observer. He placed you there to make a difference. So here's your challenge. Think back to a moment when you were a little hesitant about speaking up. Think to yourself, reflect on that. What is it that held you back? What were you afraid of? And now, looking ahead, after you've heard this episode, how will you approach your next opportunity, your next meeting, your next encounter, whether it's in the classroom, at work? How will you approach that next situation? A little differently, all you have to do is just commit to one actionable step, whether it's preparing more, building relationships or reframing your mindset, reframing your fear, and let me know how it goes. Send me a message or drop a comment. Fear, and let me know how it goes. Send me a message or drop a comment. I'd love to hear how you're stepping into this new way of thinking. Remember, your voice has value, your expertise matters, and expertise doesn't necessarily mean you have 15 letters behind your name.

Speaker 1:

I believe that if you know your purpose here on earth and how you have been predestined to have an impact and transform the lives of those around you, you'll use the skills, the talents that you have acquired, whether through formal education or otherwise, to fulfill your God-given purpose. Why am I making this point? I'm making this point because you might think yeah, dr Adrian, it's easy for you to say I mean, you have a PhD. Of course, when you speak, people are going to listen. Again, to a large extent, how you see yourself will determine the type of influence that you have.

Speaker 1:

Before I earned a PhD, I was already destined to do the work I'm doing right now. I pursued an academic career because that was just my choice. That's what I wanted and I'm happy working in that space. But the degree is not what makes me who I am. I'm a child of God, I'm a saint of Christ. Oh, that one might have caught you by surprise. Huh, well, read 1 Corinthians, 1, 1 and 2. I'm more than a conqueror. I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me. I'm blessed and highly favored. If you really know who you are in Christ Jesus, you'll never be intimidated by titles. Let me leave this closing thought with you and get your pen and paper ready or type it in your phone somewhere.

Speaker 1:

You are not a mass production. No, no, no. You're not a mass production. You weren't built on an assembly line. You're one of a kind. God made you special. You are a one of one. No one else has your DNA, just you and what's being built in you, whatever that is, whatever next step in life you're about to take, whatever transition you're about to make, whatever promotion awaits you, god is preparing you for something greater and he's building you right now. And what's being built in you takes time. Why? Because it's built to last. It's not built by speed, it's built by faith.

Speaker 1:

Friends, if you've been enjoying Faith Means Academia podcast, make sure you hit, follow or subscribe on your favorite podcast platform so you never miss an episode, whether you're on Apple Podcasts, spotify, amazon Music or anywhere else you name it. Faith Meets Academia is there. Follow this transformational, life-changing podcast to ensure you keep going personally. This transformational, life-changing podcast to ensure you keep going personally, professionally and in your spiritual walk with the Lord. Fma gives you free access to practical, faith-driven strategies you won't find on any other podcast Until we meet again. Be blessed, stay safe.