For the longest time, I believed one of my team members was just painfully shy. Let’s call her Riya. Quiet in meetings, reserved during brainstorms, hesitant to speak up even when her ideas were solid—she blended into the background like office wallpaper. And I let it slide. “She’s introverted,” I thought. “Let her be.”
But I couldn’t shake the feeling that there was something more.
One day during a casual post-lunch chat, I asked her about a campaign she had worked on. Her eyes lit up. The way she spoke—clear, passionate, insightful—was nothing short of impressive. It was as if someone had pulled back a curtain I didn’t realize was there. She wasn't shy. She just hadn’t been trained on how to communicate with confidence, especially in group settings.
And just like that, the misconception shattered.
The Myth of Shyness in the Workplace
We often mistake silence for shyness. But what if silence is just uncertainty dressed in politeness? Lack of confidence can masquerade as introversion. And we’re guilty, as leaders and colleagues, of chalking it up to someone’s “personality.”
The reality? Communication is a skill. Public speaking is a skill. Presentation, negotiation, collaboration—they’re all trainable. Yet so many professionals are thrown into the deep end without so much as a floatation device.
Spotting the Mislabel
I almost missed it because it was easy to accept the label. After all, Riya never interrupted, never demanded attention, never caused friction. But the cost of that silence? Brilliant ideas unshared. Talents hidden. A voice muffled.
Once I started paying attention, I realized that several others on the team shared this struggle. They weren’t shy—they lacked structured opportunities to build communication skills in a safe, supportive space.
Training Isn’t a Luxury—It’s a Necessity
We invest in tools, platforms, strategy decks, and marketing funnels. But how often do we invest in the person behind those tools? Giving someone a powerful platform means little if they don’t feel empowered to speak.
Training in communication is not a “nice-to-have”—it’s a core development tool. Especially in today’s hybrid workspaces, where presence isn’t physical and visibility hinges on clarity and confidence.
We started small:
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Weekly “Expression Hours” where anyone could speak on a non-work topic.
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Feedback sessions focused on how someone presented, not just what.
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A partnership with a learning platform focused on public speaking and self-expression.
Riya volunteered to speak during the first Expression Hour. Her topic? “Why I stopped saying ‘I don’t know’ in meetings.” It was raw, funny, and resonated with the entire team. She owned the room.
The Ripple Effect of Communication Training
What happened next was remarkable—not just for Riya, but for the culture at large. People who had never led before began volunteering for projects. Cross-functional teams got more collaborative. Meeting notes became action plans, not vague outlines. Confidence began to show up in unlikely places.
Training doesn’t just elevate an individual. It changes how a team connects, brainstorms, and builds trust.
And perhaps most importantly, it gives us a lens to re-evaluate people. I’d misjudged Riya based on behavior, not potential. That’s a mistake I won’t make again.
Lessons I Won’t Forget
If you’re in a leadership role, especially in HR or operations, look around. Who are the quiet ones? The ones who seem withdrawn, hesitant, or just “not vocal”? Before assuming it’s their nature, ask if they’ve ever had the chance to learn, practice, or fail safely in public speaking.
Here’s what I’ve learned:
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Shyness isn’t always innate. Sometimes it’s conditioned.
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Training transforms how people see themselves—and how the world sees them.
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Everyone deserves a platform. Not everyone knows how to step onto it.
So today, when someone joins my team, I don’t just onboard them with tools. I onboard them with support. Structured opportunities to grow, speak, and be heard. Because talent that’s not heard is talent that’s wasted.
And now, when someone’s quiet, I don’t assume they’re shy. I ask what they need to feel heard.
No matter what type of learner your child is, PlanetSpark helps set your child up for success by providing online classes with a curriculum that's designed to develop essential skills to make your child future-ready.
No matter what type of learner your child is, PlanetSpark helps set your child up for success by providing online classes with a curriculum that's designed to develop essential skills to make your child future-ready.
No matter what type of learner your child is, PlanetSpark helps set your child up for success by providing online classes with a curriculum that's designed to develop essential skills to make your child future-ready.