The Toad and I are both strong introverts. We have conversations regularly about how difficult he finds it to use his voice and to be heard. We talk about rehearsing what he wants to say in order to build confidence, experimenting using his voice in situations he feels safer in or more positive about and having his voice heard in other ways (through another person/spokesperson or in writing). Finding his voice remains a work in progress.

I recently participated in a process that was out of my comfort zone that I needed to use my voice – the issues were important and for me the stakes were high. I persevered through the discomfort and using all the techniques listed above made sure my voice was heard. In the end, being heard and being listened to are two very different things.

As I process the impacts of that difference I have made a note to myself that I likely need to prepare the Toad for a similar situation.