Why It’s So Important to Speak Up for Yourself

There was a time when I used to struggle a lot with saying what I wanted or expressing what I truly thought. The fear of upsetting someone, being inconvenient, or even becoming unpopular was simply too strong. So instead of speaking my truth, I often kept quiet or said the things I thought others wanted to hear.

Deep down, there was this belief: If I can please everyone, then everyone will like and respect me.

But usually, the opposite happens.

Trying to Please Everyone

Maybe it happens to you, too: You say “yes” when you really mean “no.” Not only in your personal life, but also in your job.

You nod along even though you don’t agree. You adjust yourself to fit in to avoid standing out. You don’t dare to be uncomfortable.

Sure, in the short term you may avoid conflict. But in the long term, you lose something much more important: control & respect for yourself.

Because every time we silence our own thoughts and needs, we unconsciously send the message to ourselves: My voice doesn’t matter as much as everyone else’s.

And especially when you are supposed to be the one who guides & leads, people around us pick up on that energy.

Self-Respect Comes First

The turning point for me was realizing that before anyone else can respect me, I have to respect myself.

That means valuing my own opinions, my own values, and my own voice — just as much as anyone else’s. And trusting my own feeling & own intuition.

It doesn’t mean being aggressive or loud in order to overrule others. It simply means being authentic and honest. Saying what’s true for you, even if it’s not what everyone wants to hear.

Because friction does not always cause rejection — it can also create the spark that leads to real conversations and growth.

Your Voice Could Be Exactly What’s Needed

Silence doesn’t protect us — it robs us of the chance to be seen and heard.

Maybe your perspective, your idea, or your way of looking at things is exactly what others need in that moment. Maybe your opinion can help everybody in your team to see things they didn’t see before …

But no one will ever know if you keep it to yourself.

The Bottom Line: Dare to Be Uncomfortable

It’s perfectly okay not to please everyone. What matters most is staying true to yourself. The more you respect your own voice, the more naturally others will respect it, too.

By the way, the person I am interviewing on this picture is the best example for uncompromised authenticity and someone who says what he thinks and what he wants … any guess?

2007 F1 World Champion Kimi Räikkönen may be at the other end of the extremes - but we all can learn from the way he dares to be himself, no matter what others may think or say …