A few weeks ago, I invited you to “ask me anything” and promised to respond in an upcoming post. One of the people who replied shared her current career challenge, and I thought many of you would resonate with this.

The Career Challenge

Thank you for sharing this challenge with me. This issue resonates deeply with many professionals striving to break through barriers and make their voices heard in the workplace due to gender, age, race, ethnic background, or other reasons they feel undervalued or unheard.

Strategies for Overcoming This Challenge

Embrace Your Leadership Potential

Your journey toward being seen as an equal is not just about changing others’ perceptions; it’s also about owning your leadership potential. If you notice the dialogue in your head is telling you that you don’t belong in the room or that people don’t respect your opinion because of your gender, race, age, or other demographic characteristic, it’s time to reframe your thinking. Remember that you belong here, your opinions matter, and your differences are your superpowers. You bring a unique perspective BECAUSE of your differences, and they need to hear your perspective.

Project Confidence

People respect confidence. They listen to people who carry themselves with confidence. Here are some tips to help you exude confidence:

• Body Language: Maintain good posture, make eye contact, and use open gestures. Take up space in the room. Check out my blog post with more body language tips. 
• Voice: Speak clearly and with conviction. Practice speaking at a moderate pace. Speaking too quickly or using filler words like “um” and “uh” can be interpreted as a lack of confidence.
• Preparation: Prepare for meetings and presentations. When you know your material inside and out, you’ll naturally feel more confident. Speak up in meetings, share your insights, and back them up with data and examples.

Demonstrate Your Competence

Demonstrating your competence is essential for gaining recognition and respect. Here are effective ways to showcase your skills:

• Deliver Results: Consistently deliver high-quality work and exceed expectations in your assigned tasks and projects.
• Share Success Stories: Highlight your achievements and the impact of your work. Use concrete examples to demonstrate how your contributions have benefited the team or organization.
• Seek Opportunities: Volunteer for challenging assignments or leadership roles that allow you to showcase your skills and leadership potential.

Build Relationships

Cultivate relationships with senior leaders. Seek opportunities to engage with them one-on-one or in smaller group settings where you can showcase your skills and demonstrate your value.

Seek Mentorship

Look for mentors within and outside your organization who can guide and support you as you navigate your career path. They can offer valuable advice on navigating challenges and advocating for yourself effectively.

It frustrates me that people face challenges with being seen as equals and feeling valued at work. If you are dealing with a similar challenge, I applaud your resilience and commitment to drive positive change and create workplaces where everyone feels empowered to contribute their best.

Wishing you the best!