🎙️Clearing Communication Clutter

As we step into 2026 (can you believe it’s already December 2025 slipping away?), I’ve been reflecting on the conversations in our WitVoices community calls. So many of you have shared the same quiet frustration: you’re doing groundbreaking work, yet your voice gets lost in meetings, emails, or Slack threads dominated by louder (often male) voices. The good news? A huge part of changing that starts with clearing out the communication clutter we’ve unintentionally picked up along the way.

This isn’t about becoming someone else. It’s about dropping the habits, phrases, fears, and styles that dim your expertise—so your authority shines through naturally. Let’s make 2026 the year your ideas land with impact.

Here’s what I invite you to leave behind—and exactly how to replace it with something stronger.

We’ve all done it: “Sorry, just circling back…” or “Sorry if this is a dumb question…” These micro-apologies train everyone (including you) to see your contributions as optional.

Action step this week: For the next seven days, catch yourself before you type or say “sorry” unless you’ve actually caused harm. Replace it with a direct opener:

Track it in a note on your phone. By day four, you’ll feel the shift—and others will too.

Phrases like “I’m not an expert, but…”, “This might be wrong…”, “Kind of” or “Just my two cents” undercut your credibility before you’ve even started.

Action step: Practice the “Strip and State” method. Write your point, then read it aloud and remove every softener. Example:

Record yourself in a voice memo saying the stripped version three times. Confidence is a muscle; this is your rep.

Many of us hold back ideas until they’re “fully baked” or until someone explicitly asks for our input. Meanwhile, half-formed thoughts from others get the airtime—and the credit.

Action step: Adopt the “70% Rule.” If you’re 70% sure of an idea, speak up. Start with: “Here’s a direction worth exploring…” or “One angle we haven’t covered yet…” You don’t need certainty to add value; you need presence.

Set a tiny goal: In your next two meetings, contribute one idea before anyone asks for it. Mark it on your calendar as a non-negotiable.

Ending statements like questions (?↑) or piling on justification after every point signals uncertainty. Yes, context matters—but endless backstory buries your insight.

Action step: Use the “Headline + Evidence + Close” framework.

Practice with a friend or in the mirror: “We should migrate to the new API. It reduces latency by 25% and aligns with our road map. Thoughts?” Then zip it. Silence invites response—it’s powerful.

The worry that being direct makes you “aggressive,” “difficult,” or “not a team player” keeps brilliant women playing small. In 2025, let’s retire that fear.

Action step: Reframe “too much” as “exactly enough.” Keep a “Wins Journal.” Every time you speak up clearly and it lands well (someone says “great point,” a decision shifts, or you simply feel proud), jot it down. Review weekly. Evidence beats fear every time.

Shrinking physically—crossing arms tightly, nodding excessively while others speak, or letting interruptions slide—reinforces invisibility.

Action step: Try the “Power Pose Reset.” Before any meeting or presentation, stand tall, shoulders back, feet planted, hands on hips for 60 seconds (bathroom stall works!). In the moment, if interrupted, use the gentle reclaim: “I’d like to finish my thought—then I’m eager to hear yours.”

One small change compounds fast.

Ready to take action right now? Block 15 minutes tonight and do this:

You deserve to be heard as the authority you already are. Clearing this clutter isn’t about adding more to your plate; it’s about removing what’s been weighing you down. When your communication is clean and confident, doors open—speaking gigs, promotions, influence—all follow.

🎊 Here’s to 2026 being the year your expertise finally gets the microphone it’s earned.

Onward—with clarity and zero apologies 🚀

✨Keep Shining,

Barkha