I know this may be news to you, but there was an election this week. You may have missed it if you do not drive anywhere seeing voting signs, watch the news at all, use social media, or have a phone that can be called and texted asking polling information.
Okay, I may be a little facetious with this, but thinking about an election and having the right to vote shows us all that we do have a voice that should be heard.
When you are a part of an organization or a team, you are working towards a common goal. Each person finds a way to contribute, but sometimes these team members differ in opinions for how to achieve the goal.
Each of us has a voice that deserves to be heard from our peers, coaches, mentors, leaders, etc. This goes back to being your own advocate. If you have an idea, say it. If you are having trouble understanding something, ask questions.
While everyday may not be election day, and you may not be speaking your mind about a larger matter like deciding the president of the United States frequently, you can still speak your mind on matters, especially on things that you are devoting a lot of time to.
The thing is that whatever may be bothering you or an idea that you have will not change or come to fruition if you do not say anything. In many situations, the worst case scenario is that someone will say no to your idea.
What is something that you may be hesitant to speak your mind about? Is it something to say to a teammate or a coach? What holds you back from speaking your mind?
Building up your confidence to speak your mind is an important attribute to being successful. Practice what you want to say ahead of time if you would like. Mentally prepare yourself to have difficult conversations. If you are wanting to chat with a specific person, let them know that you want to speak with them, so you can have that time scheduled to chat instead of continuing to push back the conversation.
You are worthy. You do have a voice. You can contribute in many ways. Remind yourself that each day.