Speaking Up With Intention: A Smarter Way to Set Your Goals

Jan 6, 2026

A new year doesn’t require a long list of aspirational, feel-good goals.
It requires the right specific goals — especially when it comes to speaking up at work.

In this first episode of the year, you’ll reframe goal-setting for speaking up at work — away from vague intentions like “be more confident” and toward specific, observable communication behaviors that actually change your impact, credibility, and influence at work.

In this episode, we cover:

• Why most speaking up goals fail by February

• The difference between wanting to speak up and deciding when and how to speak up

• Three practical assertive communication goals you can set for the new year:

  • What to say more of

  • What to say less of

  • What to say earlier — not perfectly

You don’t have to change who you are, become fearless, or extroverted.

If speaking up at work, self-advocacy, and career advancement matter to you this year, this episode will help you start with clarity instead of pressure.

00:00 Speaking Up Goals That Actually Work

04:28 Understanding Situational Responses

05:40 Don't Wait To Feel Ready, Instead Plan Your Speaking Up Moments

06:48 Speaking Up When You're Not Confident, Not Extroverted, Not Fearless

09:35 Specific Speak Up Goals

10:48 What Will You Say More?

24:58 What to Say Less Of

32:12 Speaking Up Earlier

38:05 Conclusion

 

🎁 Free Resource:
Download the 30 Power Shifts Guide — a free, practical cheat sheet with real-life “weak vs. powerful” word swaps for meetings, presentations, and everyday conversations.

• Replace soft, hesitant phrases with powerful, natural ones.

• Speak with clarity, conviction, and calm authority.

• Be heard without apology.

👉 Get your free guide here: https://assertiveway.aweb.page/30power 

 

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✅ Take the Quiz 'Do You Speak Like a High-Impact Leader?':   https://myassertiveway.outgrow.us/highimpactleader 

 

✅ Listen on the Speak Your Mind Unapologetically podcast on Apple Itunes:   https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/speak-your-mind-unapologetically-podcast/id1623647915   

 

✅ Listen on Spotify:  https://open.spotify.com/show/6L1myPkiJXYf5SGrublYz2

 

✅ Order our book, ‘Unapologetic Voice: 101 Real-World Strategies for Brave Self Advocacy & Bold Leadership’ where each strategy is also a real story:

https://www.amazon.com/Unapologetic-Voice-Real-World-Strategies-Leadership-ebook/dp/B0CW2X4WWL/

 

✅ Follow the show host, Ivna Curi, on LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/ivna-curi-mba-67083b2/  

 

✅ Request A Customized Workshop For Your Team And Company:   http://assertiveway.com/workshops

Contact me: [e-mail] or [e-mail]

Contact me on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ivna-curi-mba-67083b2