Speak Up. Take Space. Lead Now
By Sophie Makonnen
Your opinion matters—even if you're not the most senior in the room - Use your voice
It’s easy to second-guess ourselves in rooms where experience speaks loudly, especially when self-doubt or impostor feelings creep in because of age, experience level, or hierarchy. In many professional environments, especially those where expertise and structure are strongly valued, it can feel intimidating to raise your hand when you’re still finding your footing. But what if you didn’t need to be the most senior person at the table to have something valuable to contribute?
This isn't just about confidence. Staying silent, waiting until you feel fully seasoned or “ready,” only delays the leadership you're already capable of showing. You don’t gain credibility only by being the most knowledgeable or experienced, you build it by contributing.
The Myth of Readiness
We often tell ourselves, "Once I know more, have done more, or feel more confident, I'll speak up." But here's the thing: waiting for that moment can keep us stuck. The belief that you must feel completely prepared before stepping forward creates a false sense of safety that keeps far too many bright, capable people in the background.
In sectors where expertise is prized, it's easy to internalize the idea that only the most experienced voices deserve to be heard. But growth and leadership often begin when we move beyond our comfort zone. Confidence doesn’t come first; it often follows action. I know it can feel like stepping into the unknown. But you were recruited for a reason. You went through a rigorous selection process. You're not here by accident.
Sometimes the issue isn’t a lack of preparation, it’s not recognizing how far you’ve already come. We normalize our own knowledge and take our skills for granted, forgetting that what feels basic to us might offer valuable insight to others.
If you’ve ever hesitated because something didn’t feel “perfect,” know this: the pursuit of flawlessness can quietly stall our growth. We confuse excellence with doing everything without error. But aiming for excellence should not hinder your participation.
The Value You Bring (Even Without All the Years)
Speaking up in meetings or offering your perspective in a group of more experienced colleagues can feel intimidating. When you’re newer to the field or earlier in your career, it’s easy to assume that what you say carries less weight than your contributions are “less valid” because they don’t come with decades of experience behind them.
However, experience, while important, is not the only kind of value. You bring something else—something organizations often desperately need but don’t always know how to name or invite.
You bring a fresh perspective.
You ask critical questions that others may have stopped asking. You notice gaps and blind spots because you’re not yet fully conditioned to overlook them. You carry insights from the ground, from communities, and from lived experience. You bring adaptability and the ability to connect dots in ways others may not see.
Innovation doesn’t only come from seniority. It comes from perspective. And your voice, especially when paired with curiosity and preparation, can shift conversations, challenge assumptions, and introduce new ways of thinking.
So, if you’re holding back because you haven’t “been around long enough,” remember: time in a role doesn’t equal depth of insight. Your contribution matters now.
Showing Up Before You Feel Ready
When you speak up or take action before you feel fully ready, you’re not just contributing in the moment but showing others what you’re capable of. That can feel uncomfortable, especially if you’re navigating self-doubt or working in a system where seniority shapes whose voice gets heard. But speaking up before you feel ready is often what helps you grow into readiness. It’s more a way to build confidence than a sign that you already have it.
It’s also how you become visible. As I wrote in my blog on claiming your achievements, visibility is not a reward for good work; it’s part of the work. If you stay in your comfort zone and do excellent work quietly, people may never see the full extent of your strengths. Your voice, your questions, and your contributions are what allow others to recognize your presence and your potential. And this becomes even more important when you don’t yet have seniority. Your work might not be automatically seen or credited, so your voice helps make your value visible. That visibility is what allows others to see your leadership in motion and to imagine you in roles with greater influence and responsibility. That doesn’t mean speaking for the sake of being seen. Discernment still matters. Thoughtful leadership includes knowing when to listen, when to reflect, and when to offer a perspective that moves the conversation forward.
We also tend to take more risks when we feel safe. When there’s room for imperfection, curiosity, and learning, it’s easier to raise a hand or share an idea. If you’ve found yourself more vocal in some rooms than others, it may not be about your confidence, it may be about whether the space invites or silences contribution.
Practice matters. The more you speak up, even imperfectly, the more others begin to experience you as a steady, thoughtful voice in the room.
When Readiness Becomes a Decision
I’ve experienced the tension between not feeling ready and being encouraged to step up. The learning curve was steep when I took on my first team leadership role, coordinating development operations and managing relationships with government counterparts and internal teams. I was juggling multiple responsibilities, and the work kept piling up. It was that familiar situation where the busiest person keeps getting more.
Eventually, a more senior role opened up. Colleagues said, “You should go for it.” But I didn’t. I told them, “I’m not ready.” And honestly, I wasn’t. When someone else took the position, I felt relieved. I needed more time.
Two years later, a similar opportunity came around. I still had doubts. I didn’t meet every requirement, but I trusted myself differently this time. I applied. I got the job. And that led to an even bigger role. I didn’t feel fully prepared for that, but I accepted it.
What changed was this: I stopped waiting to feel ready. I realized that readiness isn’t something you always build in advance. Often, it grows while you’re already in motion.
Everyone’s Too Busy Wondering If They Sound Smart
Sometimes, we stay quiet, not because we lack confidence or expect perfection, but because we fear judgment. We worry our ideas aren’t good enough, that we might sound naive, or that we’ll be misunderstood. So we hold back, not because we have nothing to say, but because speaking feels risky.
The truth is that most people aren’t paying close attention. They’re too busy managing their own doubts. Many are wondering how they’re being perceived in meetings or discussions. The pressure we feel is often imagined. Judgment does happen. Some people critique, compare, or diminish others. That happens in most workplaces, especially in high-pressure environments. But those same people will always find something to criticize. Whether we speak or stay quiet, whether we’re prepared or learning, they’ll still have something to say. So if judgment is inevitable, it makes more sense to speak. Holding back gives more space to fear than to values. Our voice deserves to lead. It should not be directed by hesitation or by someone else’s opinion. This shift creates space to try, to speak without perfection, and to show up even in uncertainty. Most of the people we fear are likely second-guessing themselves too.
Instead of waiting to feel flawless or fearless, be present. Speak up anyway.
It’s Not Only About Experience – It’s About Contribution
Take a moment. Think about the last time you held back from sharing something in a meeting, conversation, or decision-making space. What stopped you? Was it fear of being wrong, or the belief that you hadn’t earned the right to speak yet?
It’s easy to assume that we need more years, titles, or experience before taking up space. But often, it’s not the experience we’re missing, it’s permission. And here’s the truth: no one else can give you that permission. You don’t need more time in the role to start showing what you’re capable of. You don’t have to wait until you feel fully ready. You can begin with small actions, allowing others to see your insight, thinking, and presence.
Here are a few ways to start:
Ask one question in a meeting where you’d normally stay quiet.
Share an idea even if it’s still forming—it’s not about having all the answers.
Speak early instead of holding back until everything sounds polished.
Notice when you’re holding back because of hierarchy, not actual hesitation.
Support someone else’s contribution out loud. It builds voice, connection, and confidence.
You don’t need to wait for more experience to be seen.
“Speak your mind—even if your voice shakes.” — Maggie Kuhn
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