Is Speaking More the Way to Grow Your Career?

US News says that one way to look smarter than you are (and thus grow your career) is to talk more. Yep, that's what they recommend. The rationale:

Research shows that people who speak up more often in groups are viewed as more competent and more instrumental to a group’s overall success. Maybe they aren’t the smartest people in the room, and maybe what they have to say isn’t always 100 percent right on, but talkative people are perceived as more dominant. And, for better or for worse, dominant people are perceived as competent people.

They then go on to warn about all the negatives associated with talking too much -- looking stupid because you don't know what you're talking about, talking over others, falling in love with the sound of your own voice, etc. -- all the reasons you may not want to talk more. ;-)

But they offer some ideas on how to talk more without making these mistakes:

Ask questions! Invite dialogue! Admit ignorance! Demonstrate that your objective is the success of your organization and that you want to help. Just the very act of contributing is enough to establish yourself as a key player.

And here's what US News says will happen as a result:

People will come to look to you for ideas. You will begin to be perceived as a leader. You’ll be viewed as more indispensable to the organization, and your position at work will be more secure.

Not only will your position be more secure, but it's likely that your career will advance if those things happen. And if your career advances, you'll earn more money.

Now what about the old saying as follows (I know some of these quotes are likely not from who they are attributed to, but you'll get the meaning of the thought anyway):

• It is better to remain silent and be thought a fool, than to open your mouth and remove all doubt . -- George Eliot

• Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak out and remove all doubt.-- Abraham Lincoln (also attr. Confucius)

• It is better to keep your mouth closed and let people think you are a fool than to open it and remove all doubt.-- Mark Twain (1835-1910)

• Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding. -- Proverbs 17:28

My take is that if you speak more, speak knowledgeably, and doe the things advised above (like ask questions and bring others into the conversation), then speaking more probably will make you more of a leader (or at least perceived that way) and as a result help out your career. Then again, every time you speak, you run the risk of looking like a fool. So my advice is to be careful, be sure you know what you're talking about, and communicate so that your manner, tone, non-verbal signals, etc. complement your words.

What's your take on the issue? Talk more or not?

Comments

[J]

I know of a friend that complains about a co-worker that talks a good bit. The perception from higher management is that he is competent and a go-getter. The perception from those at his level or below is that he offers up things that are impossible, undoable or incompetent, given reality. Not in all cases, but in many.
So it is funny, because it comes back to branding and creating an image of what you want people to think of when they think of you. Obviously there is a risk. In this case, it works for the top, which, arguably, is where it counts. But, no one wants anyone to think them a fool. And enough people are thinking that, again, in this scenario. we will see.............
My take away from the piece is that one can benefit from being heard by peers and superiors, but it shouldn't be done on the fly. Approach speaking out thoughtfully, and take steps, and probably key, do so in an effort to obtain success for the group and yourself.

[Emily @ Under$1000PerMonth]

Yes people love to talk. If the way you talk, like asking questions, invites others to talk, you are doing well. Everyone wants to feel valued thinks their ideas are important. Being an instrument for better teamwork reflects well on you.

[John Z]

I agree with J's second paragraph. Choose your words wisely. That requires you to pause before speaking, or sometimes not say anything until you can, rethink, or be sure of how it will be received. I'm a pretty talkative person but find myself in many business meetings where I don't say much, sometimes nothing at all (sometimes because I have no clue about the details of the subject matter!). More often though, if I'm in a situation where I'm usure what to say I take the approach of asking for clarification or for someone to summarize the actions, etc.

[Claudia]

In all the jobs that I had, all tehe xtroverts, even if they were fools, advanced a lot more than introverts, even if these were genious.

I would say management likes people who are out there. And some times it seems that how well you perform your job and get positive results is secondary to how well you sell yourself.

It's a bit like the spiral of silence to me:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spiral_of_silence