Conquer Your Self-Doubt in Meetings

Self-doubt can afflict anyone, especially in meetings. Individuals may overreact to others’ reactions or compare themselves to what they see of others. As a result, they self-edit their contributions, robbing themselves and the team of ideas and hiding their true feelings which fester into further feelings of doubt and resentment.

But there are ways you can sidestep self-doubt in the moment and make your contributions count in meetings. First, claim space with an announcement. Second, name your point of view, either to yourself or to the group, to define your thought better. Third, explain your idea — and why it matters now. Last, invite feedback from others, so they can pause to appreciate and think more deeply about what you’ve just shared.