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Listen to what is being said and improve what is missing. That, my friends, is your true opportunity &ndash; especially if you want to be listened to, looked at as a thought leader and have a voice in any conversation.

The gap between good and great is oftentimes quite small. It&rsquo;s often in voice &ndash; not just speaking to speak, but speaking with conviction, with voice and value &ndash; saying something that impacts the conversation.

In business, it is my opinion that leaders should seek out the voices from within their companies. Find those who are willing to have opinions backed by facts. Businesses have a ton of intel within their four walls. Leaders should fight to open up those conversations to then find growth ideas and solutions.

The next time you sit in a meeting, ask yourself whether you are making the meeting better by being in it. Did you think about the meeting before you stepped into it? Did you play through thoughts in your head? Are you equipped to say something that moves the needle forward?

But, it&rsquo;s not just about the voice. It is also about listening.

Listening is a vital part of making conversations smarter because you are in them. Listening to what is being said, calculating a response and creating dialog helps many teams create solutions to problems.

Do you find yourself interrupting? Do you find yourself finding the argument before finding the solution? Do you pause yourself? Do you try to read body language when listening?

I certainly seek out the listeners and the conservationists within my organization. I value those who have opinions backed by solutions &ndash; those who don&rsquo;t simply say yes. Those who listen to the sacred cows and build solutions to make them more sacred. I seek out those who watch body language, who can pick-up on emotional tells of their teams and those who have voices that back the vision.

You may not sprint to the top by offering a voice within a meeting, but you will certainly get noticed. If the company you work for appreciates the voice, it will help you accomplish your career goals and move up.

Nick Powills: Make Conversations Smarter Because You Are In Them

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