I could never imagine anyone would describe Betty White as someone who mumbles; yet, these words rolled right off her tongue when asked about her perspective. Somewhere the word ‘mumble’ became a word she worked very hard to avoid which is a great reminder to us all.
What we write and what we say bring to life the person we want to be. When we hesitate, play down or keep our opinions to ourselves we are diminishing our value. And I know, not every opinion needs to be expressed or shared every time we have it. (Opinions are like belly buttons, everybody has one, and yet not everyone wants to see it.) Wisdom is knowing when to speak, how to speak…AND to then speak.
When you are in the room and things are being discussed, speak up. Tell people what you think in such a way that they can hear and comprehend your thoughts and ideas. Your voice may be there for a VERY good reason. No one else thinks just like you do, so your opinions are important and necessary to move that idea forward. If you mumble, or don’t speak at all then your side of things goes unknown…and who knows the consequences that may create. If you need time to process, then process and speak up. If you have an idea later, after the meeting, be sure to speak up and share that thought. Being a mumbler never served anyone and never moved an idea forward.
It takes guts and courage to speak up and not mumble. It means you value your thoughts and ideas enough to share them. And yes there are talkers and there are thinkers, we all know that. We also know if the thinkers never talk and the talkers never stop to think nothing really gets done. Someone has got to speak up or write it down and mumbling never helps that process.
Speak with confidence. If need be practice in front of your cat, your dog, a mirror. Listen to your own voice out loud and get used to it. Give your brilliance, your expertise, your ideas and your experience a voice by saying things clearly for everyone to hear. YOU and your opinions are worth being voiced with strength, confidence and clarity. So as Betty White reminds us, do not let your mouth or your pen mumble.
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