Not every valuable voice is the loudest in the room

My late father was my first—and greatest—public speaking coach. As I've reflected on his life and the many lessons he taught me, I've come to realise how deeply they influenced my own speaking journey and continue to shape the way I teach through Soapbox today. I'm sharing these stories as a tribute to him—and because I believe they hold value for others too.

In this final tribute post, I want to share something I learned—not directly from my dad, but simply from being around him.

My dad was articulate and well spoken—but also very quiet and soft-spoken. Confident, with a gentle presence. He could sit in a room for hours without saying a word—and often, he did.

But if you took the time to invite him into the conversation, he was always happy to join in.

At times, it took a little persistence—but if you asked the right questions, or gave him the space and attention, he could talk for hours—sharing his perspectives, proverbs, stories… and even jokes. The best part was how much he enjoyed it, especially when revisiting his childhood memories.

It was always striking to realise how much might have remained unspoken if no one had made the effort to draw him in.

It’s something I think about often in my work.

In our meetings, our teams, our everyday interactions—there are people who stay quiet, yet have so much to offer. Sometimes they just need the right question, a moment of space, or an environment that feels safe and welcoming. Without it, valuable ideas and perspectives can remain unheard.

And of course, there are those of us who are more than comfortable filling the silence, because that’s our nature. And that’s not inherently a bad thing.

But for those of us in that group, there’s a responsibility to pause… and to invite others in.

Especially in positions of leadership—but not only.

And to those who tend to stay quiet, your voice matters more than you may realise.

Because when more voices are heard, conversations deepen, perspectives broaden, and ideas that might otherwise remain hidden begin to surface.

Sometimes, all it takes…

is a moment of silence—

an invitation…

and someone choosing to share.