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Confidence / Confidence at Work / Lesson 18
LESSON 18 · CONFIDENCE AT WORK

Share Ideas Without Fear

Thirty-two easy ways to share ideas without fear, so your best thoughts stop staying in your head.

Ideas need air. Share them in small, safe steps.

40 tipsEasy things to say7-day plan
Start with tip 1
Jump to the 7-day plan

40 tips that really help

These ideas come from Lean In (Sheryl Sandberg), The Confidence Code (Katty Kay and Claire Shipman), Never Split the Difference (Chris Voss), and everyday practice. Pick one tip and try it today.

Photo for the tip: Share ideas without fear
TIP 1

Share ideas without fear

Good ideas disappear when they stay unspoken. Sharing ideas early, in rough form, invites help and lowers the fear of getting it wrong. Amy Edmondson’s research on psychological safety shows that teams where it is safe to speak up learn faster.

TRY THIS
Share one rough idea this week by saying: “Here’s a half-formed thought.”
Photo for the tip: Call it rough
TIP 2

Call it rough

“Half-formed thought.”

TRY THIS
Say it.
Photo for the tip: Start small
TIP 3

Start small

One sentence.

TRY THIS
Write.
Photo for the tip: Frame as a question
TIP 4

Frame as a question

“What if we…?”

TRY THIS
Ask.
Photo for the tip: Link to the goal
TIP 5

Link to the goal

“This might help X.”

TRY THIS
Add.
Photo for the tip: Offer a test
TIP 6

Offer a test

Small trial.

TRY THIS
Propose.
Photo for the tip: Invite input
TIP 7

Invite input

“What do you think?”

TRY THIS
Ask.
Photo for the tip: Expect questions
TIP 8

Expect questions

Normal.

TRY THIS
Breathe.
Photo for the tip: Expect no
TIP 9

Expect no

Sometimes.

TRY THIS
Stay curious.
Photo for the tip: Write it down first
TIP 10

Write it down first

Clarity.

TRY THIS
Draft.
Photo for the tip: Share in writing
TIP 11

Share in writing

If easier.

TRY THIS
Post.
Photo for the tip: Share one-to-one first
TIP 12

Share one-to-one first

Safer.

TRY THIS
Chat.
Photo for the tip: Share in small groups
TIP 13

Share in small groups

Then larger.

TRY THIS
Step up.
Photo for the tip: Share early
TIP 14

Share early

Not at the last minute.

TRY THIS
Plan.
Photo for the tip: Avoid perfection
TIP 15

Avoid perfection

Rough is fine.

TRY THIS
Release.
Photo for the tip: Avoid self-criticism
TIP 16

Avoid self-criticism

“Silly idea.”

TRY THIS
Rephrase.
Photo for the tip: Avoid apologising
TIP 17

Avoid apologising

“Sorry, just.”

TRY THIS
Remove.
Photo for the tip: Avoid waiting for permission
TIP 18

Avoid waiting for permission

Contribute.

TRY THIS
Speak.
Photo for the tip: Scene: brainstorm
TIP 19

Scene: brainstorm

Say the first idea.

TRY THIS
Say it.
Photo for the tip: Scene: project planning
TIP 20

Scene: project planning

Offer an alternative.

TRY THIS
Offer.
Photo for the tip: Scene: customer feedback
TIP 21

Scene: customer feedback

Suggest a fix.

TRY THIS
Propose.
Photo for the tip: Scene: process problem
TIP 22

Scene: process problem

Suggest a tweak.

TRY THIS
Propose.
Photo for the tip: Scene: a team chat
TIP 23

Scene: a team chat

Post a thought.

TRY THIS
Post.
Photo for the tip: Scene: a manager 1:1
TIP 24

Scene: a manager 1:1

Bring one idea.

TRY THIS
Prepare.
Photo for the tip: Scene: all-hands
TIP 25

Scene: all-hands

Submit a question.

TRY THIS
Submit.
Photo for the tip: Scene: a suggestion box
TIP 26

Scene: a suggestion box

Use it.

TRY THIS
Write.
Photo for the tip: Scene: a hackathon
TIP 27

Scene: a hackathon

Join in.

TRY THIS
Sign up.
Photo for the tip: Scene: a new role
TIP 28

Scene: a new role

Observe, then suggest.

TRY THIS
Plan.
Photo for the tip: Scene: a shy moment
TIP 29

Scene: a shy moment

Write it down.

TRY THIS
Draft.
Photo for the tip: Scene: when ignored
TIP 30

Scene: when ignored

Repeat with data.

TRY THIS
Prepare.
Photo for the tip: Scene: when credited to others
TIP 31

Scene: when credited to others

Document.

TRY THIS
Email.
Photo for the tip: Scene: when criticised
TIP 32

Scene: when criticised

Learn.

TRY THIS
Breathe.
Photo for the tip: Scene: when accepted
TIP 33

Scene: when accepted

Celebrate.

TRY THIS
Share credit.
Photo for the tip: Create safety
TIP 34

Create safety

Respond kindly to others’ ideas.

TRY THIS
Practise.
Photo for the tip: Ask for ideas
TIP 35

Ask for ideas

From the team.

TRY THIS
Invite.
Photo for the tip: Review
TIP 36

Review

What happened?

TRY THIS
Reflect.
Photo for the tip: Be patient
TIP 37

Be patient

Skill grows.

TRY THIS
Keep going.
Photo for the tip: Seek help
TIP 38

Seek help

Coaching.

TRY THIS
Consider it.
Photo for the tip: Celebrate
TIP 39

Celebrate

You shared.

TRY THIS
Mark it.
Photo for the tip: Close with courage
TIP 40

Close with courage

Say, “Rough ideas make good ones.”

TRY THIS
Write it.

Easy things to say

When you are stuck, pick one of these. They work in many everyday situations.

SHARE

“I have an idea I would like to try.”

ASK

“Would you like to hear it?”

TEST

“Could we try a small version?”

INVITE

“What do you think?”

THANK

“Thanks for listening.”

CLOSE

“I am happy to refine it.”

Your first week

One small action a day. Each day is only a little bigger than the last.

DAY 1
Write your idea
DAY 2
Start with a small audience
DAY 3
Use a short pitch
DAY 4
Ask for feedback
DAY 5
Improve it
DAY 6
Share wider
DAY 7
Celebrate trying

Further reading

  • Lean In (Sheryl Sandberg)
  • The Confidence Code (Katty Kay and Claire Shipman)
  • Never Split the Difference (Chris Voss)

The tips above are written in our own words and are general guidance. The books are suggestions for further reading.

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These lessons share general learning and everyday ideas. They are not medical or mental health advice. If you feel very anxious, low or unwell, please talk to a doctor or a qualified professional.

More lessons in “Confidence at Work”

Keep going. Small steps every day make a big change.

← Previous: Ask for a Raise With EvidenceNext: Say No to Extra Work Politely →

  1. Prepare Your Three Stories
  2. Answer "Tell Me About Yourself" Well
  3. Handle the Question You Fear
  4. Ask Great Questions Back
  5. Talk About Your Strengths Without Bragging
  6. Recover From a Bad Answer
  7. Follow Up With a Winning Note
  8. Speak in the First Ten Minutes
  9. Prepare One Point Before Every Meeting
  10. Disagree With a Colleague Kindly
  11. Handle Being Interrupted
  12. Share Credit and Claim Yours
  13. Speak Up in a Big Group
  14. Look Confident in Video Meetings
  15. Ask for Feedback Regularly
  16. Receive Criticism Without Crumbling
  17. Ask for a Raise With Evidence
  18. Share Ideas Without Fear
  19. Say No to Extra Work Politely
  20. Report Problems Early
  21. Show Your Value Every Month
  22. Introduce Yourself in a New Team
  23. Make Friends at Work
  24. Ask for Help Without Shame
  25. Handle a Difficult Colleague
  26. Stop Being the Office Pushover
  27. Celebrate Others and Be Celebrated
  28. Build Your Reputation Quietly
  29. Take on a Stretch Project
  30. Overcome Impostor Syndrome
  31. Lead Without a Title
  32. Give Your First Presentation
  33. Mentor Someone Newer
  34. Handle a Mistake at Work
  35. Set a Career Goal You Believe In
  36. Learn One New Skill Every Quarter
  37. Network Without Feeling Fake
  38. Say Yes to Opportunities That Scare You
  39. Protect Your Energy and Balance
  40. Your Confidence at Work Plan
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