Patrick,
Your's is an important question. How can you meet this expectation? You
might want to ask them to be more specific. What is it that they expect?
Are they asking you to be more "out-going" or more "vocal," whatever they
mean? Or are they asking you to be more dogmatic, assertive, defending
your ideas? One of the sources of help you might try is Toastmasters.
Though I never been a part of their program, I know people who have, who
have gained tremendous self-confidence in being able to articulate their
ideas in persuasive ways. It might help.
Another thought is that the proof of your ideas are in the effect they
have upon people, processes, the bottom-line etc. You might want to keep
a file of comments that have been made. If someone offers a verbal
conpliment, ask if they would not mind putting that in writing for a
comment file. Those off-hand comments can become the counter to any
perceived inadequacy they may offer.
I realize that you were speaking more philosophically. But I 'm not sure
there is an answer in the abstract. Ideas win the day when change is
happening, and the vocal ones are not in their area of experience. And
finally, one last way to portray a more "forceful personality" is to ask
that some decision be made, when appropriate of course, about your
decision. Don't let it float. Let everyone have to make a choice. Move
them to decision about your idea. And if you are uncomfortable with that,
then plan ahead of time how to share a specific idea including a request
for a decision.
Hope this helps. I'm going to think more about your question. Thanks.
--Ed Brenegar Leadership Resources edb3@msn.com
Learning-org -- Hosted by Rick Karash <rkarash@karash.com> Public Dialog on Learning Organizations -- <http://www.learning-org.com>