5 Reasons why speaking up in meetings is the secret to getting women promoted

5 Reasons why speaking up in meetings is the secret to getting women promoted

Most women assume promotions come from working harder, staying reliable, and quietly delivering results. But when it comes to senior leadership, speaking up in meetings is often the difference between being seen as dependable… and being seen as promotable. Because leadership is not built in silence. This conversation challenges the belief that confidence has to come before visibility. The women getting promoted are rarely the people with perfect answers. They’re the people whose thinking becomes visible during decision making conversations, stakeholder discussions, and high-pressure moments where leadership presence matters most. And this is where so many capable women hold themselves back. Years of second-guessing, overthinking, and trying not to “say the wrong thing” can quietly damage confidence at work, even when the capability is already there. But staying silent doesn’t protect your career the way many women think it does. In leadership environments, silence is often interpreted as uncertainty, hesitation, or lack of strategic input. That’s why speaking up in meetings matters far beyond confidence alone. You’ll hear why visibility shapes opportunity, how communication influences trust with senior stakeholders, and why executive presence has less to do with personality and far more to do with clarity, intention, and consistency. There’s also an honest conversation about imposter syndrome, shrinking language, and the subtle habits that weaken authority without women even realising it. Because leadership communication is a skill - and skills can be learned. If you’re ready to stop waiting until you feel “confident enough” and start communicating like someone who already belongs in the room, this episode will shift the way you think about speaking up in meetings forever. Follow the podcast for more honest conversations on leadership, communication, executive presence, and career growth for women ready to step into bigger opportunities without losing themselves in the process. If you are tired of being overlooked and want to turn your potential into a promotion, check out my 12 week coaching programme Practically Promoted https://www.boldmovescoach.co.uk/practically-promoted [https://www.boldmovescoach.co.uk/practically-promoted] Tags: speaking up in meetings, women getting promoted, executive presence, leadership communication, confidence at work  Podcast intro with music  End of episode - follow for more Leadership Communication in Action is a podcast for women who are capable, thoughtful, and quietly questioning how they’re showing up at work and in life. I’m Liz Boswell. I work with professional women who don’t need more advice, but do need space to think clearly, especially when the pressure is on. Each episode is a calm, mentoring-style conversation grounded in real client moments. We look at the stories people carry, the behaviours those stories create, and the small, practical shifts that change how things land day to day. You’ll hear honest reflections, psychologically precise questions, and simple actions you can try immediately, without overhauling your life or becoming someone else. If you’re stepping into more responsibility, more visibility, or simply feeling the weight of decisions that matter, this podcast is here to help you slow things down, think more clearly, and move forward in a way that feels grounded and real. A quiet companion for people who want to make better moves, not louder ones.

Leadership Pressure: Speaking Up Without Taking Criticism Personally

If you’ve ever felt your judgement questioned at work, struggled to stay calm under pressure, or found yourself over-explaining decisions in senior conversations, this episode will resonate. As you move into more senior roles, leadership pressure changes. Visibility increases, expectations rise, and decisions carry more weight. In this episode, Liz Boswell explores why experienced professionals (especially women) often feel greater scrutiny as responsibility increases, and how to handle pressure at work without losing your authority. We explore:  • Why your judgement is questioned more at senior level • How pressure and risk change how people listen • The difference between healthy challenge and persistent doubt • Why high-performing women can over-explain or become defensive • How to stay calm and maintain authority under pressure If you’re navigating leadership transition, stepping into a more senior role, or making high-stakes decisions at work, this conversation will help you think clearly and respond with confidence. If you are tired of being overlooked and want to turn your potential into a promotion, check out my 12 week coaching programme Practically Promoted https://www.boldmovescoach.co.uk/practically-promoted [https://www.boldmovescoach.co.uk/practically-promoted] Leadership Communication in Action is a podcast for women who are capable, thoughtful, and quietly questioning how they’re showing up at work and in life. I’m Liz Boswell. I work with professional women who don’t need more advice, but do need space to think clearly, especially when the pressure is on. Each episode is a calm, mentoring-style conversation grounded in real client moments. We look at the stories people carry, the behaviours those stories create, and the small, practical shifts that change how things land day to day. You’ll hear honest reflections, psychologically precise questions, and simple actions you can try immediately, without overhauling your life or becoming someone else. If you’re stepping into more responsibility, more visibility, or simply feeling the weight of decisions that matter, this podcast is here to help you slow things down, think more clearly, and move forward in a way that feels grounded and real. A quiet companion for people who want to make better moves, not louder ones.

Decision Making for Senior Leaders: The Power of the Pause

In this episode we explore the power of the pause and why it's a bold move for women in business. Pausing to think could be seen as procrastination by those around you, yet moving too quickly can sometimes lead to mistakes and at senior level that can damage your reputation. It's time to challenge the belief that pausing is procrastination, and show how taking time to think can improve decisions, strengthen trust, and protect long-term credibility. This conversation is for capable female leaders who are dealing with pressure, and questioning whether they are making decisions at the right pace. Preparing for Partnership? If you are a senior woman in professional services navigating the transition to partner-level responsibility, learn more about private leadership transition coaching here  https://www.boldmovescoach.co.uk/practically-promoted [https://www.boldmovescoach.co.uk/practically-promoted] Leadership Communication in Action is a podcast for women who are capable, thoughtful, and quietly questioning how they’re showing up at work and in life. I’m Liz Boswell. I work with professional women who don’t need more advice, but do need space to think clearly, especially when the pressure is on. Each episode is a calm, mentoring-style conversation grounded in real client moments. We look at the stories people carry, the behaviours those stories create, and the small, practical shifts that change how things land day to day. You’ll hear honest reflections, psychologically precise questions, and simple actions you can try immediately, without overhauling your life or becoming someone else. If you’re stepping into more responsibility, more visibility, or simply feeling the weight of decisions that matter, this podcast is here to help you slow things down, think more clearly, and move forward in a way that feels grounded and real. A quiet companion for people who want to make better moves, not louder ones.

Speaking Up Without Self-Doubt | Managing Your Inner Critic

If that voice inside your head gets louder as responsibility increases, this episode is for you. In this episode of Making Bold Moves, Liz Boswell explores Bold Move 6: Quiet the Inner Critic - Liz explains why the inner critic often gets louder not quieter as you progress as a leader. Drawing on leadership experience and insights from neuroscience, she reframes the inner critic as a stress response, not the truth. In this episode, you’ll learn: * Why senior leaders still struggle with self-doubt (even when they “should know better”) * How the brain’s protective response shows up as overthinking and second-guessing * The difference between anxiety and uncertainty in leadership decisions * How to stop arguing with your inner critic and start managing it * Three practical ways to quiet the inner critic without ignoring risk This episode is especially relevant if you replay decisions in your head long after they’re made. This is the final episode in Stage 2 of the Bold Moves Roadmap: Managing the Inner Load — where leaders learn to protect their energy, trust their judgement, and lead with clarity under pressure. 🎧 Listen if you want calmer decision-making, stronger self-trust, and a healthier relationship with the voice in your head. Preparing for Partnership? If you are a senior woman in professional services navigating the transition to partner-level responsibility, learn more about my 12 week coaching programme here https://www.boldmovescoach.co.uk/practically-promoted [https://www.boldmovescoach.co.uk/practically-promoted] Leadership Communication in Action is a podcast for women who are capable, thoughtful, and quietly questioning how they’re showing up at work and in life. I’m Liz Boswell. I work with professional women who don’t need more advice, but do need space to think clearly, especially when the pressure is on. Each episode is a calm, mentoring-style conversation grounded in real client moments. We look at the stories people carry, the behaviours those stories create, and the small, practical shifts that change how things land day to day. You’ll hear honest reflections, psychologically precise questions, and simple actions you can try immediately, without overhauling your life or becoming someone else. If you’re stepping into more responsibility, more visibility, or simply feeling the weight of decisions that matter, this podcast is here to help you slow things down, think more clearly, and move forward in a way that feels grounded and real. A quiet companion for people who want to make better moves, not louder ones.

Leadership Communication for Delegation | Speaking Up for Boundaries to Free up Space

Many high-performing female leaders stay stuck in the details because they believe delegating means lowering standards. In this episode, Liz Boswell explores how strategic delegation is a leadership communication skill that protects both your quality and your boundaries. Discover why the real barrier to delegation isn't capability—it's protection—and how speaking up about workload builds influence, not weakness. Leadership Communication in Action is a podcast for women who are capable, thoughtful, and quietly questioning how they’re showing up at work and in life. I’m Liz Boswell. I work with professional women who don’t need more advice, but do need space to think clearly, especially when the pressure is on. Each episode is a calm, mentoring-style conversation grounded in real client moments. We look at the stories people carry, the behaviours those stories create, and the small, practical shifts that change how things land day to day. You’ll hear honest reflections, psychologically precise questions, and simple actions you can try immediately, without overhauling your life or becoming someone else. If you’re stepping into more responsibility, more visibility, or simply feeling the weight of decisions that matter, this podcast is here to help you slow things down, think more clearly, and move forward in a way that feels grounded and real. A quiet companion for people who want to make better moves, not louder ones.