#WorkMomSays if you’re not speaking up, you’re missing out. In this episode Lori dives into why being silent in the workplace can quietly sabotage your career. She discusses the importance of contributing your ideas, even when it feels uncomfortable, and shares the dangers of letting louder—but not necessarily more qualified—voices dominate the room. Lori tells the true story of standing up to the CEO when no one else would, and outlines practical strategies you can use to speak up more confidently in meetings—even if you’re shy or introverted. Themes discussed in this episode The risk of staying quiet: why silence rarely serves you or your team Overcoming the fear of speaking up and the myth of perfection The power of showing up, voicing your thoughts, and being present Language you can use to share controversial or dissenting opinions constructively How speaking up can lead to growth, leadership, and new opportunities Episode Highlights Time-stamped inflection points from the show 00:12 – Introduction to speaking up, even when it’s uncomfortable, and why it matters for your success. 01:04 – How quieter, smarter voices often stay silent while less qualified ones get ahead. 02:19 – Lori shares a real-world example of voicing dissent to a CEO and the mixed results. 05:33 – Learning to share your viewpoint: “It’s about showing up and contributing.” 06:54 – Tips for constructive language when you need to disagree or add a new angle. 09:21 – How speaking up gets easier with practice—and why good leaders want your input. 11:06 – Action step: raise your hand and try speaking up at your next meeting. Top Quotes 01:50 – “Your silence doesn’t serve you and it doesn’t serve your team.” 05:39 – “If you really know and have an opinion on something you really need to share, share it.” 06:29 – “It’s not about having the perfect answer. It’s about showing up.” 11:29 – “Get used to being uncomfortable, because that’s where the gold is.” Transcript 00:12Hello, I’m Lori Jo Vest. Welcome to this episode of Work Mom Says, Don’t Be an Idiot. I am here to help you play the emotional contact sport of business in a way that lets you experience a lot less drama and a whole lot more success. So today, we’re going to talk about something that can totally shift your career. You may not realize it, but if you’re not speaking up, you’re missing out. Even if you’re 100% comfortable kind of sitting in the background and not wanting to say anything, and that works for you, it’s not going to work for your career. You need to speak up, be present, share your wisdom—even when you’re not totally comfortable doing so. It’s something that you’ll want to learn to get comfortable doing, and the only way to get comfortable is to practice. 01:04So why this matters: one of the biggest things that you’ll run into at the office is people who have egos that are much bigger than their talent, and those people love to speak up. But the reality is people who don’t have those egos may have an even more important voice in the room. Too many really smart people stay quiet out of fear, afraid of people thinking that they’re dumb, afraid of making a fool of themselves, afraid of being wrong. And less qualified people that know a lot less than you do are out there just talking up a storm, getting all kinds of things and making bank because they are not quiet. Your silence doesn’t serve you and it doesn’t serve your team. It doesn’t serve your boss. Your employer wants your thoughts. They want to know what you think, because they hired you based on your talent and your skills, so even when you’re not sure. And so let’s talk about what happens when you’re in a room and they ask a question and you don’