Quiet people have the loudest minds.

-Stephen Hawking

How many times have you heard the question “Why didn’t you speak up?” or “Why were you so quiet?” when leaving a meeting? If you’re an introvert, chances are you have heard it – and often.

As an introvert I know it not our natural tendency to speak up in a large group.  More often we’re content to fade into the background, listening and thinking.  Unfortunately, by responding to inquiries for input with, “I have nothing more to add,” introverts can give the impression they are disengaged – or worse, have nothing to contribute with the team’s future success.

Like our more extroverted counterparts, introverts need to increase their visibility and demonstrate leadership traits in meetings to advance their professional career.  And, for this reason I have thought a lot about how to be assertive in meetings – providing meaningful contributions to the discussion along the way.  Below are a few of my best tried-and-true tips:

Prepare and Ask Questions.  As opposed to commenting off-the-cuff during a call, I typically feel better about thinking stuff through before speaking.  To play into my personal strength of being observant, I habitually take 15-minutes before a meeting to review agenda topics, or reflect on a project’s previous meeting minutes.  Then, I write down a few thoughtful questions that might identify an issue, present a better path forward or offer an opportunity for personal clarity.

More times than not, the “scripted” questions will work themselves into the conversation.  But, if not, just having them on paper ahead of time often spurs more spontaneous comments that keep me in the game…

Get there early.  Even before the majority of my meetings went the way of conference call, I always felt it was important to be a few minutes early to a meeting.

First, being there before things get started gives me a great opportunity to feel comfortable in the room.  Casual conversation with a few co-workers is a wonderful ice-breaker for an introvert.  Instead of jumping right in with the “formal stuff,” I use this time to establish my presence.

Second, as an early attendee I avoid the dread of walking into a full conference room.  That would only intensify my natural desire to observe, not interact.  Instead, I like to be in the room (or conference call) to welcome others to the group – turning the tables, so to speak, on the extroverts!

Diversity of thought is very important to the success of any organization.  And, if you’re more on the introverted side, like me, it may take work to have your valuable thoughts heard.  But, I guarantee taking these few tips will help both you and your team work together toward those goals.