Have you ever had a great idea in a meeting, only to keep it to yourself, then watch someone else say it later and get a round of applause while you sip your coffee in betrayal? That’s the power of status cues. And yes, they’re real.
At work, we don’t just listen to what people say, we pay attention to who says it.
And somewhere in our social wiring, our brains whisper:
- “Is this person allowed to speak up?”
- “Will this sound dumb?”
- “Am I too junior to challenge this?”
These invisible signals are called status cues, they’re tiny, subtle things like:
- Who sits where
- Who gets interrupted
- Who always gets asked to “circle back”
- Who nervously says, “Just a quick thought, feel free to ignore…”
The problem?
When we assume our voice carries less weight, we stop using it. But: status isn’t static. It’s not about title, it’s about perception. And you can shift how you show up.
How to Use Status Cues Without Selling Your Soul:
- Make eye contact when you speak
- Sit up, lean in. Posture matters
- Ditch the apologetic language: Instead of “Sorry if this is silly…” try “Here’s something I’m thinking.”
- Speak early in a meeting – status is easier to claim than reclaim
- Support others’ ideas to build collective confidence
You don’t need to be the loudest voice. Just the clearest. And clarity builds influence.