Canoeists learn to steer from the back. Sometimes the person with the quietest seat is choosing the direction.

Influence and volume are not the same thing. In a canoe the steering happens behind you, which means the person who looks like a passenger is often the one deciding where the boat ends up. Groups work the same way. The loudest voice sets the mood, and somebody quieter usually sets the plan.

In your next group project or team huddle, watch for who is actually steering rather than who is talking. If that quiet seat is yours, you have more say than you have been using. Offer one direction this week and see how easily the boat turns.