Own Your Statements

A question hands the decision to someone else; a statement keeps it. 'Should we move the deadline?' becomes 'We need to move the deadline.' Same idea, but now you're leading it instead of asking permission for it.

State where you stand without apology, and without turning your position into a poll. You don't need to be aggressive — just clear and direct. In your next meeting, watch the pattern: the people whose ideas get adopted are the ones who name a position, not the ones who float a tentative question.