Why Subject Matter Experts Often Hesitate to Speak Up in Meetings and Presentations
In many organizations, the people with the most valuable expertise are often the least comfortable speaking in meetings and presentations.
Experts know their subject matter. They understand processes and procedures, and they know how to make sense of complex information.
But they don’t always know how to communicate what they know and understand with others.
They hesitate to speak up.
They avoid presenting altogether.
They second-guess themselves.
They apologize before speaking.
They worry about wasting people’s time.
And they fear that they will say something incorrect.
Expertise and communication are different skill sets in organizations
People earn promotions because they know important things and they’re competent in their area of expertise. They are rarely promoted because they were trained to present, teach, or lead discussions.
Technical experts become leaders because of their technical proficiency.
County staff are promoted because of the quality of their work within the organization.
Healthcare professionals are provided with teaching opportunities because of their clinical experience.
Once promoted, they’re expected to communicate with external audiences, lead internal meetings, and report to senior leadership and directors (often without formal training in how to do so).
Why experts hesitate to speak up
Experts hesitate to speak up, not because of a generic fear of public speaking (though this is certainly a real concern).
They hesitate because they aren’t used to being the center of attention.
They hesitate because they’re accountable for accurately and clearly sharing their knowledge with others.
They hesitate because they don’t want to over-explain or waste anybody’s time.
What organizations lose when expertise stays quiet
When experts don’t speak up in meetings, or present to external and internal stakeholders important information remains unspoken.
When an expert hesitates to share what they know, external audiences miss out on learning about the value of the offerings of an organization. And internal audiences miss out on opportunities to learn and clarify decisions.
What effective communication training actually changes
Communication is a skill set that can be developed and improved. Experts can learn how to identify their main point, organize information with clarity, and reduce the pressure of perfection when speaking with others.
Confidence improves through both practice and structure. When communication is organized, it becomes easier for even the most apprehensive speaker to become more confident.
Conclusion
Organizations are filled with internal experts. These are the members of the team who understand complex information and are skilled at navigating their specific subject matter. The challenge is helping these experts communicate their expertise clearly and confidently in the right context.
Bring This Training to Your Organization
If your team is working with complex information in high-stakes environments, structured communication training can improve clarity, confidence, and effectiveness across your organization.
Share a brief description of your team, goals, and timeline, and we’ll recommend a format that fits your needs.
Contact: info@creatingcuriositycoaching.com
About the Facilitators
Chris McRae, PhD and Aubrey Huber, PhD are communication instructors with over 30 years of combined experience in public speaking, teaching, and applied professional communication. They work with organizations, agencies, and academic teams to improve clarity, presentation effectiveness, and high-stakes communication.