Welcome back to savvy psychologist. I'm Dr. Ellen Hendrickson, and I'm back again as your interim

host. Here at the show, we help you face life's challenges with evidence-based approaches,

a sympathetic ear, and zero judgment. Meetings from the Monday team meeting to the faculty meeting, HOA meeting,

and 12-step meeting, meetings happen all the time. Even your book club is technically a meeting.

But just because meetings are common doesn't mean participating is easy. If we're familiar with social anxiety

or perfectionism, if we're junior, new, or somehow ended up sitting next to the boss's boss,

or if we're an only, the only woman on the team, the only neurodivergent person in the room,

etc., speaking up in a meeting can feel less

like a contribution and more like a threat. We don't want to risk saying something stupid,

feel like we have nothing to say, or risk blabbering on and on, but then we don't say anything

at all, and end up feeling as ignored as whatever is in the back

of the office fridge. Thankfully, there's no need to wait until we magically conjure a perfectly

timed slam dunk of a comment. Instead, try these six strategies to get talking.

Strategy one, speak early.

The longer we wait to speak, the harder it gets.

Aim to speak in the first 10 minutes, or ask one of the first questions during the Q&A.

Once you get it over with, you'll be able to listen with a clearer head, which may lead to

having something else to say.

Strategy two. Preface your thought for now.

If you're still getting your public speaking sea legs, it's okay to preface your thought

with the equivalent of, this is not a complete thought, or I'm spitballing here.

For example, this idea is still forming,

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