The First-Mover Advantage

In any group, someone has to go first — and most people give that opening away by waiting for a braver person to take it. There rarely is one.

Treat going first as a gift you give yourself: the early speaker earns the influence, so claim it instead of handing it to the room.

Build the habit where it costs little. Speak up first in standups, casual dinners, and elevator chats, where a clumsy opener carries no real consequence. By the time the stakes are high, going first will already feel routine.