Have you ever walked into a meeting prepared, thoughtful, ready to contribute ... and then left feeling dismissed?

It is incredibly frustrating.

And, I want you to hear this clearly:

Your voice matters. It matters more now than ever.
And you deserve to be heard, valued, and respected in the rooms you are in.

The good news is this does not have to keep happening. There is a proven process to reduce those moments and increase your influence without needing to become louder, sharper, or someone you are not.

Here are two strategies you can start using immediately.

1) Get Clear on Your Message ... and the Meaning Behind It

Before we talk tactics, let's talk about mindset. Not in a vague motivational way ... in a practical, performance based way.

I want to share a simple parable that makes this point.

There are three people laying bricks.

Someone walks up to the first and asks, “What are you doing?”
She says, “I’m laying bricks.”

They ask the second person the same question.
She says, “I’m building a place of worship.”

Then they ask the third.
She says, “I’m building direct communication with God.”

This is not a religious statement. It’s a meaning statement.

Same work. Same bricks. Same room.

Different perceived purpose. Different power.

And when you are going into a room where you might be dismissed ... it is critical to decide ahead of time what your message means.

Are you walking in thinking, “This is just one more update”?

Or are you walking in knowing, “This point protects the team, improves the outcome, reduces risk, saves time, increases performance”?

Because when you assign real meaning to your message, you show up differently.

You speak with more certainty.
You take up appropriate space.
You stay grounded when tension shows up.

So before your next meeting, get clear on three things:

What exactly do I need to say?
Why does it matter to the team, the leader, or the business?
What will be lost if I do not express it?

When you do this, you’re not just “sharing an idea.” You’re advancing something that matters.

2) Use a Simple Interruption Script That Protects the Relationship and Reclaims the Floor

Now let’s talk about what happens when you get interrupted or spoken over.

This is common, especially for women. And research also shows it can happen even more for women who are further marginalized within our gender.

Let's change that.

It makes sense that you would feel frustrated or angry when interrupted. That reaction is human.

The problem is ... when emotions go up, performance goes down in us AND in the other person.

So here’s a strategy that helps you interrupt the interruption ... while staying composed.

It comes from Chris Voss, and it’s called an "Accusations Audit™."

The concept is simple: you say out loud what you think the other person might be thinking about you in that moment. When you name it, it often releases its power.

Here’s what it can sound like:

“You might think I’m being rude for interrupting, but would it be unreasonable if I finish what I was saying?”

Let’s break down why this works:

You acknowledge the social tension they might be feeling.
You show respect without shrinking.
You redirect the conversation back to you in a calm, confident way.
You make it easier for them to adjust without feeling attacked.

And yes ... many times people do not even realize they are doing it. That does not make it acceptable, but it does give you a way to respond strategically instead of emotionally.

The Real Goal ... Influence With Integrity

If being dismissed keeps happening, it's helpful to