Women don’t naturally speak softly. We’re taught to.

In meetings, I see it all the time: brilliant, qualified, high-potential women lower their voices—literally and figuratively.

➡️ They soften their tone.

➡️ They raise their pitch.

➡️ They make themselves smaller to seem “nice,” “agreeable,” or “non-threatening.”

This isn’t about their voices.

It’s about conditioning.

From a young age, women are taught to be “pleasant,” to avoid “coming on too strong,” to make room for others even when they’ve earned their seat at the table.

Here’s what happens as a result: 

✅ Their ideas get overlooked

✅ Their presence gets minimized

✅ Their credibility takes a hit

And worst of all?

They start believing that being quiet = being professional.

Let me be clear: 

📢 Your voice is not too loud.

📢 Your presence is not too much.

📢 Your opinion is not an interruption.

🎙 Here’s how to stop quieting your voice in meetings:

1) Breathe. If your voice is a car, the breath is the gas. Taking full, deep breaths not only powers up your voice, it literally activates your body's calming response. 

2) Stop asking for validation on things you already know to be true. Asking someone else, "Is Beth here?" when you know damn well that Beth is perpetually early and already has her second glass of chardonnay & the bar tender's phone number lessens your credibility, authority, and power. So stop. 

3) Claim space when you speak—no “sorry to interrupt” needed. 

Practice saying one sentence with full authority—and pause. There is power in the pause. There is power in making people wait for what you have to say next. Claim it. 

You don’t need to sound like a man to be respected.

You need to sound like a woman who means every word she says.