The loudest person phenomenon is a psychological phenomenon that occurs when people in a group think that the person who speaks the most and makes the most noise is the leader. While this may be true for some people, it’s not always true. This is because there are many other factors that shape what we perceive as leadership qualities.
The loudest person holds the most influence and can drown out other people, but this doesn’t mean they are always correct. They often tend to be people with positions and authority in an institution.
The most vocal person can be providing their opinion instead of the right advice. It can be tempting to follow their advice because they are so loud and persuasive – it’s easy to forget that they may not have all the answers.
People are more likely to gravitate towards those who are louder than those who have knowledge on a topic. Furthermore, people often judge the loudest person to be in charge of making decisions rather than the subject matter expert.
We may think that the person who is being the loudest in the room is always right. However, this person may not be the most knowledgeable.
If you are looking for someone with a good idea, you should look for someone who has more than just an opinion – they should also have knowledge and experience in what they are talking about. Not just someone who continuously dominates the conversation because of their position and personality.
If you often get caught in this situation, it is essential not to be intimidated by those who are louder or more aggressive, as this could lead you to lose your focus. However, never lose sight of the purpose and objective of the discussion or conversation.
If a collective decision is a necessary outcome of the discussion, engage a facilitator to facilitate. But, on the other hand, if all you need is a piece of advice or opinion, I have learned that often if there isn’t any upside to winning the argument, it is best to agree to disagree. After all, why choose to win an argument but lose a relationship?
But what if you are the loudest person in the room?
I would recommend first trying to identify how you may be dominating the conversation, which could be through interrupting, talking too much, or not giving others time to speak. Then, once you have identified your tendencies, try to do the opposite – allow others speakers time in the conversation and listen more before you speak up.
Look for signs if you occasionally shut down other conversations from happening. Evaluate if you frequently dominate the discussion or the decision.
Recognize that being dominant can be a character, but there’s a big difference between being dominant and right. Be bold to admit that you may not be right in everything and have an open mind to the conversation. Accept that respectful disagreement can be a good thing and give different perspectives on a subject matter.