AEE 2457: Can You Relate? How to Speak Up with Confidence in a Meeting

Summary

All Ears English Podcast: AEE 2457 – Can You Relate? How to Speak Up with Confidence in a Meeting

Release Date: August 7, 2025

In Episode 2457 of the All Ears English Podcast, hosts Lindsay McMahon and Michelle Kaplan delve into the art of speaking up confidently during meetings. Aimed at intermediate to advanced English learners, this episode provides practical strategies to enhance participation in group discussions, whether in academic settings or the workplace.

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1. Overcoming Hesitation in Group Discussions

The episode kicks off with Lindsay and Michelle sharing their personal experiences from graduate school, highlighting the common struggle of feeling hesitant to speak up in group settings.

Lindsay McMahon [02:22]:
"I also sort of sometimes struggled to speak up in these discussions."

Michelle Kaplan [05:19]:
"It can be hard to put yourself out there in classroom discussions."

These sentiments resonate with many listeners who find themselves overshadowed by more vocal participants or uncertain about contributing meaningfully.

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2. The Power of Connection and Validation

A central theme of the episode is the importance of connecting ideas and validating prior speakers to build confidence. Michelle emphasizes how linking your thoughts to what someone else has said not only fosters a smoother conversation but also demonstrates active listening and respect.

Michelle Kaplan [03:14]:
"To be able to connect ideas, to link things together I think is such a huge piece of this."

Lindsay McMahon [04:53]:
"It shows respect for your classmates… or workmates, too, in a meeting."

By validating others, speakers create a supportive environment that encourages more active participation.

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3. Introducing Key Strategies: "Piggybacking" and "I Can Relate"

The hosts introduce specific expressions to help listeners confidently add to ongoing discussions:

a. Piggybacking on That

Michelle Kaplan [07:28]:
"Piggybacking on that… I also think we need to look into our sales for Q3 to make this decision."

Lindsay elaborates on the metaphor, likening it to adding your idea on top of someone else's, thereby creating a cohesive conversation.

b. I Can Add to That

Michelle Kaplan [08:41]:
"I can add to that. We have had really good progress, but we need to focus on customer attrition."

This phrase allows speakers to seamlessly introduce their thoughts while acknowledging the previous contributor's input.

c. I Can Relate

Lindsay McMahon [11:33]:
"I have had a similar experience…"

Michelle Kaplan [11:42]:
"I've had a similar experience. So I agree that it is something we should pay attention to."

Sharing personal experiences not only validates the discussion but also fosters a deeper connection among participants.

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4. Practical Application Through Role Plays

To illustrate these strategies, Lindsay and Michelle conduct two role plays—one in an academic setting and another in a business environment.

a. Academic Scenario

Group Project Meeting

• Lindsay:
  "If we highlight this point here on the first page, I think we would be in great shape."

• Michelle:
  "Piggybacking on that, there are a ton of areas we should be revisiting."

• Lindsay:
  "I can add to that. I think we do need to spend some more time on this."

This exchange demonstrates how to build upon each other's ideas, ensuring the conversation remains focused and productive.

b. Business Scenario

Hiring Discussion

• Michelle:
  "Extending from what Lindsay said, this is really important and we shouldn't take it lightly."

• Lindsay:
  "I can relate to what Lindsay said. It's crucial to avoid the trap of spending too much on marketing."

Even in a one-on-one meeting, these expressions facilitate meaningful dialogue and mutual understanding.

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5. Benefits of Using These Strategies

Implementing phrases like "piggybacking on that" and "I can relate" offers several advantages:

• Boosts Confidence:
  Knowing how to connect your ideas reduces the fear of speaking up, as your contributions are anchored to existing conversations.

• Demonstrates Active Listening:
  Validating others' points shows that you are engaged and value their input, fostering a collaborative atmosphere.

• Enhances Communication Flow:
  These expressions help maintain a logical progression in discussions, making conversations more coherent and effective.

Lindsay McMahon [17:28]:
"Can you connect what you're saying to what someone said before? Not only to respect the people in your group but also to give yourself a confidence boost."

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6. Conclusion: Building Effective Communication Skills

Lindsay and Michelle wrap up the episode by reiterating the significance of connecting ideas and validating others in boosting one's confidence to speak up. They encourage listeners to practice these strategies in their daily interactions to become more effective and confident communicators.

Michelle Kaplan [17:50]:
"It's okay. If you need that. It's human."

This episode serves as a valuable resource for anyone looking to enhance their participation in meetings and group discussions, emphasizing that connection and respect are key to confident communication.

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Key Takeaways:

• Connect and Validate: Use phrases that link your ideas to others' to create cohesive and respectful conversations.
• Utilize Specific Expressions: Incorporate "piggybacking on that," "I can add to that," and "I can relate" to build confidence and demonstrate active listening.
• Practice Through Role Plays: Engage in practical scenarios to apply these strategies effectively in both academic and professional settings.

By adopting these techniques, listeners can transform their approach to group discussions, fostering environments where everyone feels valued and heard.

Transcript

[Lindsay McMahon]

This is an All Ears English podcast. Episode 2457. Can you relate how to speak up with confidence in a meeting? Welcome to the All Ears English podcast. Downloaded more than 200 million times. Are you feeling stuck with your English? We'll show you how to become fearless and fluent by focusing on connection, not perfection, with your American hosts, Lindsay McMahon, the English adventurer, and Michelle Kaplan, the New York radio girl coming to you from Colorado and New York City, usa. To get real time transcripts right on your phone and create your personalized vocabulary list, try the All Ears English app for iOS and Android. Start your seven day free trial at allearsenglish.com forward slapp.

[Michelle Kaplan]

Today. Got a smart piggybacking strategy. When you want to speak up in a group but you feel hesitant, learn how to give credibility to prior speakers and give yourself a confidence edge in English.

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[Lindsay McMahon]

Hey Michelle, how you doing today?

[Michelle Kaplan]

Good, Lindsay, how are you?

[Lindsay McMahon]

Really good. Michelle, did you. You were in graduate school, right? You did your graduate degree? Yeah.

[Michelle Kaplan]

Yes. And teaching English as a second language. And yeah, there, there's a lot of group discussions that happen in graduate school. A lot of talking. Right. Lindsay, you, I mean, you also went to graduate school?

[Lindsay McMahon]

Yep, and my program was in Boston. It was a small program. I think there were like 17 people in the entire program. And most of the discussions, you know, you'd have your reading, which I was shocked how much reading there was. In graduate school, you'd have your reading and then in the classes, you would have a group, a class wide discussion, people chiming in on their thoughts, their critiques and then, you know, you'd go around the room kind of popcorn style. But what is the key piece here for our listeners to be successful in this kind of discussion? Michelle?

[Michelle Kaplan]

Right. To be able to connect ideas, to link things together I think is such a huge piece of this. So that's what we're going to talk about today is this skill that's super important for group discussions. And again, this could be in graduate school, any other type of school work. I mean, for example, we have this idea came from Open Conversation Club. Right. Ly. That is a conversation group.

[Lindsay McMahon]

Yeah. I was so excited that this idea came to my head because, well, when our students, when anyone joins our courses, you're automatically invited to Open Conversation Club twice a week. You get to come join the group. We speak in small groups. We speak in the main room. The large group. Speak with me, speak in the hot seat. Sometimes with Aubrey, whoever's running the call will be able to speak. But one of the key pieces that I noticed that one amazing student did that one time was she linked what she was saying to what the person before her had said. So I always ask people to report out on what they've said in their groups and she actually linked to what the person before her said, which is high level and was something new that I hadn't seen before.

[Michelle Kaplan]

Okay, that's really great. Yeah. So, guys, this is. That is impressive. It helps with connection. I mean, this is huge. So we're going to teach you how to do it today in your own group conversations, whatever they may be. And yeah, it just really connects things, make them sound smooth. It also shows that you're listening, which people like. People want to be heard and they.

[Lindsay McMahon]

Want to be here. And just to take it even one level further, I think it shows respect for your classmates. Yeah, I think it. And again, your workmates too, in a meeting.

[Michelle Kaplan]

Right.

[Lindsay McMahon]

I think it shows respect for whoever has just added something. Like think about how you feel when the next person you've said something and then maybe you're. Maybe you're a little self conscious about what you've said. You're not sure if it was good. Then the next person who speaks says, you know, just piggybacking off of what Michelle said. You know, I can add XYZ that validates what you.

[Michelle Kaplan]

I was gonna say the word validate. Yep, exactly. It gives you a little ego boost. Feels like.

[Lindsay McMahon]

Because it can be.

[Michelle Kaplan]

It can be hard to put yourself in there, out, out there in classroom discussions. I've definitely felt that. I've definitely held. I'm. It's funny because I'm. I love talking to people and I love people, but there's something about that classroom setting that sometimes gets me, especially sometimes I feel that people like to hear themselves.

[Lindsay McMahon]

Oh, yeah. Yes, Michelle, I totally princes.

[Michelle Kaplan]

And the And. And. Yeah, yeah.

[Lindsay McMahon]

And that's. There's a lot we could say there about American culture. And it's not always the one who is the most verbal or vocal that is saying the best things are the most valuable things. And.

[Michelle Kaplan]

And that goes into also, like a class participation discussion, because sometimes there's like a class participation grade and they want everyone participating. Yeah. That's an interest. Whole other discussion. It's. Yep.

[Lindsay McMahon]

I struggled with this as well in graduate school because there were those key players that were always talking, and like I said, they weren't always necessarily the most valuable contributions, but they like to hear themselves talk. Right. And then there were others that had a lot to say but maybe spoke less. I also sort of sometimes struggled to speak up in these discussions. Believe it or not, we talk. We've talked many hours on this podcast, but many in. In graduate school, for me, it was a little triggering at times. Yeah.

[Michelle Kaplan]

So. So I have. That I had the same. The same experience. So funny. Yep. We.

[Lindsay McMahon]

We understand our listeners in that case.

[Michelle Kaplan]

Right.

[Lindsay McMahon]

Completely understand them. So today we're going to give you the expressions to do that to validate who has just spoken. So you hope that maybe they will connect your idea to their idea. Someone else in the future just makes you a better communicator. Right, Right.

[Michelle Kaplan]

I think it also could give you some of that confidence to speak up if you have these tools. Okay. I'm gonna connect it to somebody. I'm gonna, you know, I. I'm gonna show that I was listening. I think it can give you that confidence and make you feel a little bit more prepared. Right. To start speaking up. Yeah.

[Lindsay McMahon]

It's not totally out of the blue.

[Michelle Kaplan]

Right.

[Lindsay McMahon]

It's kind of like what I'm saying is not going to be totally unexpected or crazy because it's connected to what this other person said. Right. Because it does give you a bit of that confidence edge. Okay. I think our listeners understand the why. Let's get into it, Michelle. Yeah.

[Michelle Kaplan]

Okay. I love this one. Piggybacking on that or to piggyback on that. What in the world, Lindsay.

[Lindsay McMahon]

Yeah, I know, right? I mean, so when you give someone a piggyback ride. Right. They get on your back and you walk around sometimes with your kids or with a friend, or maybe there's like a field day and you're doing piggyback races or something in the field. But literally, we're taking that concept and we're putting that into. I'm piling my idea on top of what someone else set.

[Michelle Kaplan]

Right.

[Lindsay McMahon]

What's A sample sentence, Michelle.

[Michelle Kaplan]

So here's a couple. So the first one is piggybacking on that. I also think we need to look into our sales for Q3 to make this decision.

[Lindsay McMahon]

And I think even I could be making this up. But I feel like even in our team sinks. Michelle, I've heard you say this, right. To chime in on, you know, when someone else has shared an idea. Because our team sinks are kind of popcorn style, what comes to mind? What strategic ideas do we have?

[Michelle Kaplan]

Right, Definitely. Or what's another sample?

[Lindsay McMahon]

Just to piggyback on what Chelsea said. The second paragraph is looking a little skimpy.

[Michelle Kaplan]

Yeah.

[Lindsay McMahon]

And. And here we're adding just to piggyback on. So the phrase is just to piggyback on what someone said. Yeah.

[Michelle Kaplan]

Right. So even saying the name, I think is also just very powerful.

[Lindsay McMahon]

Powerful. Totally agree. Yeah, that's another way to do it.

[Michelle Kaplan]

Yeah. So this one is I can add to that. Or you could say like I could add. Like I can add to what someone is saying. Okay. So for example, I can add to that. We have had really good progress, but we need to focus on customer attrition.

[Lindsay McMahon]

And this really is very appropriate because the reality is, hopefully a discussion is not just these random siloed ideas that are not related to each other at all. If they are, we're doing something wrong. The facilitator is doing something wrong. And so you want your ideas to be cohesive and frustrating, furthering others ideas so you come to some kind of a decision or conclusion or an insight as a group. Right?

[Michelle Kaplan]

Exactly. Exactly.

[Lindsay McMahon]

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[Michelle Kaplan]

Those are not the only ones.

[Lindsay McMahon]

Options for. I hope our listeners are writing this down. I think this is going to be very powerful today. What's the next one?

[Michelle Kaplan]

Extending from what Blank said. So what the person said. So extending from what Lindsay said. We always want to keep our listeners top of mind. That's why we have found new ways to interact with them. Yep.

[Lindsay McMahon]

Perfect. A little wordy. Right. But it gets the job done.

[Michelle Kaplan]

Right.

[Lindsay McMahon]

And it gives you. What we're looking for is that little boost of confidence. It's kind of like we're giving ourselves permission to speak. Right.

[Michelle Kaplan]

Yes. I love that. And do we have one more.

[Lindsay McMahon]

Yes. I have had a similar experience or I've been in a similar situation, or I can relate. And this is kind of when maybe we're telling personal stories.

[Michelle Kaplan]

Yes. Right. So I've had a similar experience. So I agree that it is something we should pay attention to.

[Lindsay McMahon]

Love it. Or I can relate to what Lindsay said. It's crucial to avoid the trap of spending too much on marketing.

[Michelle Kaplan]

Yeah.

[Lindsay McMahon]

Michelle, which is your favorite here, which is the one that you relied on in grad school to get yourself ideas out there?

[Michelle Kaplan]

I think the piggyback.

[Lindsay McMahon]

Yeah, yeah.

[Michelle Kaplan]

What about you?

[Lindsay McMahon]

Yeah, that was a big one. I always thought it was sort of silly, but it is. It is used. It's useful, and it is heavily used, right?

[Michelle Kaplan]

Yes, very much so.

[Lindsay McMahon]

I would often say, just to add to what. And we kind of have a hybrid of that today that we've taught our listeners. But I would often say, you know, just to add to what Cassidy said. Yes, xyz. And then give my contribution. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Michelle Kaplan]

All right. So we're gonna do two role plays. Okay. Two different scenarios. So one is more of a school and one is more business. So here in the first one, we are working on a class project and we are meeting with our group.

[Lindsay McMahon]

Okay.

[Michelle Kaplan]

Yeah.

[Lindsay McMahon]

And this could be in a, like we said before, a large group discussion with 10 or 12 people. Or it could be in a very small group of four. Three. Right. Okay. Here we go. So if we highlight this point here on the first page, I think we would be in great shape.

[Michelle Kaplan]

Yes. And piggybacking on that, there are a ton of areas we should be revisiting.

[Lindsay McMahon]

Oh, yeah. True. I can add to that. I think we do need to spend some more time on this.

[Michelle Kaplan]

Yeah.

[Lindsay McMahon]

And again, it's not something we have to do every time we speak. Up in a group, you know, maybe we do it the first time and then, and then you feel a bit more free and the ideas are free flowing. It's just an option as a little bit of a. I wouldn't say a crutch, but a bit of a intro to what you're going to say. Okay, right.

[Michelle Kaplan]

Yeah, it get. It gives a little bit of. It just give. Adds a little extra something. It's also, it also is one of those. We talk a lot about kind of preparing the listener. We've talked about that recently even, you know, so you're preparing someone. Oh, this is going to be connecting to that other thing that somebody said. Right? Yeah.

[Lindsay McMahon]

I love this. So good. This is so good. What about in the workplace, Michelle?

[Michelle Kaplan]

In the workplace. Here we are hiring managers.

[Lindsay McMahon]

All right. I just wouldn't want to get ourselves into a situation where our hire isn't who we were looking for.

[Michelle Kaplan]

Yeah, I can relate. My department made a terrible hire last year and it cost us a lot of stress and money.

[Lindsay McMahon]

Oh, wow. So extending from what Michelle said, this is really important and we shouldn't take it lightly. And I would. What are your thoughts, Michelle, on how many people need to be in the group to say this? Do you think this can be done with just a group of two?

[Michelle Kaplan]

So I think in this one I'm imagining that we do have at least another person in there. Yeah. Because I said. Yeah. So I'm imagining you said one thing and then I'm saying I could relate and then you were kind of summing it up for the group or adding a little something for the group. But no, I don't. No, you can't use this with. I mean, you can use. Okay, I would say you can use. I can relate. I can add to that. Sure. Piggybacking, I think kind of piggybacking.

[Lindsay McMahon]

Yeah, I think we can. But yeah, on a one, in A1. On one meeting, let's say a zoom meeting, you can use it and, and it would serve its purpose. But I, I think that there's more for it in a larger group, like three or more.

[Michelle Kaplan]

I agree. Yeah, I do agree.

[Lindsay McMahon]

And it's especially useful in a zoom call like the OCC group because I don't know, I think we're all kind of in our little squares. You know, we're all over the world. We're trying to connect. So any additional thing you can do to show that connection is huge.

[Michelle Kaplan]

Yeah.

[Lindsay McMahon]

Like were you, you know, just to show you weren't on another tab in the browser reading the news when that person was speaking.

[Michelle Kaplan]

Right, right. Yeah, that is true. To show that you were paying attention. You care what the other person says, and you're giving that. Them that little confidence boost. Hey, I see you. I think what you're saying is valuable. And I, you know, so that, I mean, that can hurt. Yeah, that's good stuff. Yeah.

[Lindsay McMahon]

Let's go through these. These role plays, Michelle, and see what we used. So piggybacking.

[Michelle Kaplan]

I love it.

[Lindsay McMahon]

Yeah, it's really common. So I said, if we highlight this point, I think we would be in great shape. And you said, did we not do this one?

[Michelle Kaplan]

Did we not go? Did we?

[Lindsay McMahon]

I don't think we. Did we?

[Michelle Kaplan]

All right, then maybe. Well, guys, if we did it already, here we go.

[Lindsay McMahon]

Maybe we did.

[Michelle Kaplan]

Oh, no, you might be right. Okay, so then use. Then I said, yeah, piggybacking on that. There are a ton of areas we should be revisiting.

[Lindsay McMahon]

Yes, exactly. And then he said, yes, true. I can add to that. Right. Another way. And then real quickly, we'll go through. In the second one, you said, I can relate. Right. I made a statement and you said, I can relate.

[Michelle Kaplan]

Right.

[Lindsay McMahon]

Then you said something that is related.

[Michelle Kaplan]

And then you said to the. To the group, you could. You said, wow. So extending what from. So extending from what Michelle said. This is really important and we shouldn't take it lightly. Yeah.

[Lindsay McMahon]

I love this episode. I love how many advantages this will give our listeners.

[Michelle Kaplan]

Yeah.

[Lindsay McMahon]

I think this is like a hidden gem. I can't believe we haven't done an episode on this yet, but we did it, and it's fantastic, guys. This is going to be in your top 20 most valuable episodes of all ears English. Okay.

[Michelle Kaplan]

Love it. And if you want to listen to another awesome episode, here it is. 2435 is called. Called this is an awesome episode. Take our word for it. So it's right there in the title. I love it.

[Lindsay McMahon]

And the takeaway here is this. Can you connect what you're saying to what someone said before? Not only to respect the people in your group that you're speaking to at work or in graduate school or. But also to give yourself a confidence boost, to kind of validate for yourself that it's okay to speak? It's okay if you need that.

[Michelle Kaplan]

Right.

[Lindsay McMahon]

It's human. If you need a bit of that confidence boost.

[Michelle Kaplan]

Right, Exactly. I love it. All right, Lindsay, well, I'm so glad that you came to me with this idea today and that we could talk about it, guys, and thank you so much for listening. All right.

[Lindsay McMahon]

Sounds good Michelle. Talk to you soon.

[Michelle Kaplan]

Bye bye.

[Lindsay McMahon]

Thanks for listening. To all ears. English Would you like to know your English level? Take our two minute quiz. Go to allearsenglish.com forward/fluencyscore and if you believe in connection not perfection, then hit subscribe now to make sure you don't miss anything. See you next time. This is the story of the One he's responsible for keeping a leading healthcare facility clean and safe. And he trusts Granger's high quality H vac cleaning and safety products combined with their world class supply chain to consistently deliver, ensuring he's covered inside and out so he can focus on keeping his facility clean to help protect the health of everyone inside. Call 1-800-GRAINGER clickranger.com or just stop by Grainger for the ones who get it done.

[Michelle Kaplan]

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