5 Reasons Why You Should Speak Up More — Especially If You Are a Younger Employee If you don't do this early, you'll get a reputation for not doing it at all. It's hard for bosses to value employees who don't do this — so don't wait.

As a leadership and career coach, there's one thing I routinely tell young professionals to develop before it's too late. Otherwise, they'll always feel — and often, actually be — stuck.

It's a simple thing, but it can make all the difference when Gen Z employees are starting out at their first job.

More from the author: 6 H.A.B.I.T.S. of Powerful People

Speaking up (especially when it means expressing a difference of opinion) is a huge differentiator when it comes to a young professional's ability to grow themselves and their career.

Oftentimes, opportunities for advancement and development go to those who have the courage to use their voice — and routinely do so. Because they're willing to go against the grain and make meaningful contributions to group discussions without "waiting" to be asked, they're seen as valuable contributors to the organization and they're rewarded as such. Here's why speaking up makes such a difference.

1. It's probably what you were hired to do anyway

Most young professionals don't have an impressive resume with decades of work experience. Many times, they're not hired because of what they've already done, but what they'll be able to do and what they'll offer in terms of intellect and insight.

Highly successful companies aren't afraid to challenge the status quo and regularly pride themselves on having safe spaces where new ideas can be generated and considered. Thus, many young professionals aren't hired because they'll view the organization's problems in the same way as everyone else, but rather because they'll view problems differently and offer new and innovative solutions.

When you hold back and refuse to share those different ideas (often for fear of being wrong), you're robbing your employer of the value you bring and shortchanging the company of your true worth. You might think you need years of experience before you've earned the right to propose new ideas, but that's hogwash.

If you don't speak up now, a competitor could develop a better solution before you, which could cost your organization tremendously. Someone else on your team might share the same idea later, but that costs time. You're there to add value, so don't hesitate to do it.

Related: There Are 6 Types of Great Leaders — Which One Do You Fall Into?

2. It makes other people's jobs easier

Leaders want to deliver better results in less time. When you stay quiet and don't readily offer your opinion, your leaders not only have to work harder to extract ideas from you but from everyone else, too. When people readily speak up and offer potential solutions, they encourage others to do the same.

Empowered teams that have numerous individuals willing to speak up and voice possible solutions repeatedly outshine their quieter, less empowered counterparts. Bosses don't like having to pull teeth to ideate the best ways to get the work done. When you're proactive about sharing your thoughts, your boss can accomplish the same goals in less time, which they'll appreciate.

The time they would've spent trying to solve a problem themselves or enlisting others to help can be cut in half when they have a team of individuals readily offering solutions. This frees up time to plan the work and then execute on those plans.

When you're willing to speak up and share, you also demonstrate that you are self-led and can work independently without being chased down. You start to build a reputation as a driven self-starter. Employees who manage themselves in this way are the employees who often get promoted and advance, not those who need to be managed.

3. It's not the norm

Speaking up, especially in difficult situations, isn't the norm. Sadly, at most organizations, it's the exception — it's something many of us are afraid to do. Doing so requires courage and courage is a mature act. Even senior leaders struggle to overcome fear with courage at times.

If you can exude this maturity early in your career, you'll likely stand out amongst your peers as unique and rare. This will help your name surface in succession planning meetings when you're not around.

When senior leaders talk about their people, it's those who have built a unique brand for themselves whose names come up, not those who are the same as everyone else. What's the worst that could happen? You could get fired, but I rarely see employees get fired for speaking up in respectful ways and in an attempt to add value.

Related: Check Out Amy Chamber's YouTube Channel For Motivation Content

4. It proves you have values and stand for something

Those who are willing to speak up, especially in tough situations, demonstrate that they're grounded in something. When you're willing to advocate for things you're passionate about, especially if you believe they're the right things, you demonstrate that you have values that extend far beyond being popular and keeping the peace. Not only do people get a better chance to know who you really are inside and what makes you tick, but they can also develop confidence that you're going to do the right thing, even when it's difficult. That matters.

5. You exude leadership abilities

Leadership is all about making difficult decisions and taking action. As a leader, it's essential to not reactively wait for others to nudge you to do your job. You must have your own ideas, be excited to proactively lead people forward, schedule meetings with others and organize the flow of work toward its final goal. When you're not afraid to speak up and use your voice, you show others that you have the skill to lead others through difficult situations and challenging times of change, and you show that you're determined to be a top performer. There's always a spot for top-performing leaders who get things done.

Speaking up and using your voice can be tough, especially when you're a young professional. It's easy to be intimidated by those who have been there longer. It's also rare that 100% of your colleagues will act or be excited by your contributions. Your willingness to express an opinion might intimidate them. But feeling resistance doesn't mean speaking up is the wrong thing to do. In fact, staying true to yourself and expressing your real feelings are almost always the right things to do. If it feels hard, that's likely a sign you're stretching yourself out of your comfort zone and evolving as a professional. So don't resist that discomfort — lean into it.