Where Does "Log Kya Kahenge" Stands for You?

If you have recently heard someone speak online and thought to yourself,

“They’re not even saying much, but they sound so sure of themselves. I wish I was more like them?”

But on the other hand, you spend 3 hours recording a reel or just an explainer for office, triple-check every word, and still sound like you’re an unsure potato!

What?

Yes, you heard me right.

It was not a typo or a tech glitch.

All this? It traces back to something called the Potato Mic Syndrome. And that’s exactly what I want to talk about today

To put it in simpler terms,

It’s when your voice is solid, but your delivery signals to your audience, “Please don’t take me too seriously.”

So what’s actually going wrong?

While we have something or someone, always ready to shift the blame on the moment something goes wrong in our life, the root cause behind potato mic syndrome is unfortunately none of that.

Because the real reason that this term exist is the sentence you are super familiar with:

“Log kya kahenge?”

And trust me, this sentence is not just noise, this is a culture.

A culture where we have learned to underplay ourselves before we ever learn to own a room.

Where we are taught to choose grace over volume, adjustment over attention, and most dangerously acceptance over authority.

And by the time when it’s finally our turn to speak?

We bring the hesitation of a generation with us.

And for Indian women, it cuts even deeper

I mean think about it,

We’re told those age old things from the moment we hit puberty:

❌ “Don’t speak too much, ladki ho.”

❌ “Don’t show too much ambition, shaadi ka kya hoga?”

It starts early. And it stays lifelong so much so that even if you’re brilliant, you would naturally soften your voice.

Even if you’re right you would have to smile while getting corrected by someone.

And even if you know your work deserves attention, you will constantly second guess your judgement with sentence like, “Am I allowed to take up that much attention?”

And the few who unlearn this?

Who speak clearly, stand tall, say things as they are?

They’re often met with raised eyebrows.

Not just from the outside, but sometimes, from other women too.

That’s the real potato mic moment.

,

Not poor equipment this time.

But a lifetime of being told to dim down what’s clear.

However, I don’t want to fit in.

I don’t want to let these conditioned thoughts restrict me from growing.

And if you are like me,

Here are 4 things I’ve started doing to break out of this syndrome for good:

➡️ I stopped rehearsing for approval

I no longer create content like I’m trying to “win respect.”

Because I have stopped looking for that validation outside. I speak like I already have it because unless you know how to respect yourself, no one else will too.

And this small energy shift has changed everything for me.

➡️ I upgraded my mic after I upgraded my self-trust

No, this is not a metaphor. I seriously did it.

And no, I don’t mean I bought a fancy mic. I mean I finally ditched the fear of overstepping. I gave myself permission to sound powerful, even before I fully believed it.

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And the best way in my opinion would be to alter your self trust which basically means that I gave myself permission to sound powerful before I became one.

And that habit in itself is a game changer.

➡️ I remind myself who I’m not speaking to

I’m not here to convince an uncle who thinks girls shouldn’t talk too much.

I’m not here to soothe a client who only respects “white people's presentation.”

I’m here for my people. And they don’t need a perfect accent or setup, they just need clarity and truth, which I am ready to give them 100%.

➡️ I reframe visibility as generosity

Because of all the above mindset shifts, now whenever I speak, I try to bring in absolute clarity. I show up confidently, or claim my space.

I’m showing the next girl what’s possible, and that’s always worth the discomfort.

Because we can’t grow out of this on an individual level. So, try to uplift each other.

See,

It’s not your voice that’s the problem.

It’s the filter it’s passing through.

So adjust the mic.

But more importantly, adjust the belief.

Because the world isn’t waiting for your perfect articulation.

It’s waiting for an honest sound.

And the next time you need a reminder? Just sing;

“Jhumka gira re, Bareilly ke bazaar mein.”

Let it fall. Let it echo. Let them look.

You're not here to be small and safe.

You're here to be heard.

And if any of this hit you hard, just reply and tell me, what’s one way you’ve been playing small lately, even when you knew better?