Speaking Up When It’s Hard: A Guide for Conscientious Professionals

Have you ever been in a situation where you were asked a question—maybe in a professional setting—where you knew you knew the answer? But in that urgent moment, with the pressure mounting from those around you, your thoughts scattered. You couldn't collect yourself, and instead of delivering a confident answer, you stuttered out something incoherent. The people you wanted to impress now potentially have an opinion of you that doesn’t represent who you truly are. Does that sound familiar?