Speaking up

What to say when you do not understand something in a meeting

By Anton, English in Meetings

Someone says something quickly, or uses a term you did not catch, and the meeting rolls on. You have a choice in that second: nod and hope, or ask. Most people nod, because asking feels like admitting you are behind.

Here is the reframe. Asking a clear question does not make you look slow. It makes you look engaged. The people who ask good clarifying questions are often the ones seen as sharp, because they are clearly tracking the detail.

Three lines that ask without losing face

• "Sorry, could you say that last part again?"
• "Just to check I am following, do you mean we ship first and test after?"
• "Can you give me a quick example of that?"

The second one is the strongest. By repeating back what you think you heard, you do two things at once. You show you were listening, and you let the speaker correct you without anyone feeling awkward. It turns a gap into a moment of alignment.

Why it works

In meetings, a confident clarifying question reads as leadership, not weakness. It often helps three other people who were also lost but did not speak. You are not the only one who missed it, you are just the one brave enough to make the meeting clearer.

Your challenge this week

The next time something flies past you, do not nod. Ask one clarifying question using a line above. Notice that the sky does not fall, and that people answer gladly.