It’s not hard, as the office grad, to feel invisible. Like nothing you have to say is of any value to those around you.

And it probably doesn’t, but that doesn’t mean they shouldn’t give you the time of day, and it certainly doesn't mean that you shouldn’t try getting their attention.

Why?

Being heard in the workplace is key. You’re seen as competent, you get credit for the work you do, and that you can get shit done.

So how can you get a room full of older, wiser, and more experienced colleagues to listen to you, the bright-eyed, baby-faced university grad?

Lay the Groundwork

Getting people to listen is less about volume and more about strategy, so start by laying the groundwork.

Listen.

Not to us, to your colleagues.

Active, engaged listening shows them you’re attentively processing their points and is a prerequisite to being heard.

Why?

Because if you develop a relationship with them by making them feel listened to, chances are they’ll reciprocate and do the same for you.

Pay Attention to Your Words

Remember...

It’s an office. You’re competing for attention.

Attention is the most important currency anyone can give you. So choose your words wisely.

Let’s say you need to voice something to your boss or ask for a series of reports.

Get. To. The. Point.

Your boss is distracted. They spend all day listening to others, checking their emails, and dealing with time-consuming fluff.

So don’t waffle.

This is a mistake so many grads make.

They feel like they have to justify everything because of where they stand within the company. Your boss has projects and deadlines far more important than your request, and by frontloading your ask with unnecessary context, you’re doing them a disservice.

It may feel awkward, but you can simply ask for their attention:

“I’d love your full attention if possible. I also understand you may have other things on your mind and am happy to return to this whenever is good for you.”

What If Things Get Heated?

Things get heated. It happens.

How can you cut through the noise and ensure you’re still heard?

1. Don’t apologise for your feelings

Avoid saying things like “I feel so bad about saying this” or “This is really hard for me to do.”

This takes the focus away from the issue at hand and makes the person feel obligated to take care of your feelings instead of listening attentively.

2. Use “and” instead of “but”

Someone else doesn’t need to be wrong for you to be right.

“But” is a naturally combative word. “And” is more engaging. Simple as that.

3. Use hypotheticals

Jump-starting an imaginative discussion is far more engaging than a rigid one where everyone is stuck defending their points.

And if you’re the one to lead everyone out of the pit of disagreement, then they’ll absolutely listen to what you have to say.

Something as simple as “I hear your concern about A. I wonder if we could do that by starting with B” is more than enough.

Watch Body Language

The words coming out of your mouth are only half of the story.

So watch. Observe.

Are people slouching? Yawning? Aggressive finger-pointing? These are clear signs you aren’t being listened to.

Consider the C.E.N.T.E.R acronym for essential non-verbal communication:

C = Core posture. Are you standing tall or are you sloched? 
E = Eye contact. Do you make it or avoid it? 
N = Natural gestures. What are you doing with your hands, shoulders, and feet? Are you fidgeting or are you gesturing naturally?
T = Tone. Are you speaking clearly, calmly, and audibly? 
E = Expressions of the face. What expressions are you making? How might those be interpreted? 
R = Regions and territory. How do you take up space in the room?