Building Confidence to Speak Up with Tonya Lehman

What if being quiet doesn't mean you have nothing to say—it means no one's giving you the space to say it?Tonya Lehman stood in her husband's manager's bathroom, reading every ingredient on the hand lotion bottle, killing time to avoid returning to a party where she'd been completely ignored. That moment became her turning point: just because she's an introvert doesn't mean she deserves to be invisible.Now Tonya helps quiet professionals gain the skills and confidence to speak up for personal growth and professional impact. But here's what most leaders miss: introverts aren't just shy—they're untapped potential sitting in meetings, composing emails in their minds instead of contributing in the moment.The psychological safety problem: Leaders ask "any questions?" and move on within seconds. Extroverts see opportunity where introverts see risk. And the loudest voice always wins—until it doesn't.Tonya reveals why physically raising your hand changes everything, how to address points made earlier in conversations without awkwardness, and the critical mistake she made using one word that dismissed her entire team's concerns (and the email from her boss that followed).Are you leaving your best ideas unspoken?Through her Speaking Games Club and the "I Have a Gift for You" exercise, discover how spontaneously dealing with uncertainty builds the muscle introverts need to contribute powerfully. Connect with Tanya Lehman: Website: https://joylab.biz Social Media: @SpeakUpWithTanya LinkedIn: Tanya LehmanStay connected!Subscribe to Sheila's newsletter for early access to episodes and expanded strategies.Newsletter: https://fivemilestones.kit.com/newsletter LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sheilaslick/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@fivemilestonesFor more information: Sheila Slick: https://sheilaslick.com Five Milestones: https://fivemilestones.com/show/Sponsored by: https://PodToBook.ai