Women Leaders overcoming the habits that hold them back
context
A, N & S are campus hires. They have a lot of ideas and questions about their projects, aspirations to contribute and to be visible within the project. However, the reluctance and fear of speaking out stopped them from contribution.
challenges
S would constantly seek permission, A would speak only on her turn and would let go and handover the opportunity to present, N was comfortable doing the work and requested her peer to send the status to leadership team. Each of them lacked confidence in starting a conversation and to speak in a team of more experienced members. Even in instances where their idea would impact the project or a question would bring in more clarity, they would wait or in the worst-case scenario would be silent impacting their own performance and project outcomes negatively.
solution
During the diversity labs and the coaching sessions they identified the areas to work on. S moved from “May I do this” to “Here is what I would like to share with the team”. She overcame her hesitation to “Go first” “Ask Questions” and “Share her ideas”.
A developed a clear working schedule for herself in which she allocated time for work, for learning for future roles and for personal time. She focused on consciously changing her conversations with Leads and Team members.
N worked on finding her voice. She is no longer shy to speak up or to express herself. She approaches her teammates for discussion and information which helped her in making new allies.
impact
S in her words – “I have started making key notes on what I’m supposed to talk prior to the event.” “I have stopped minimizing by consciously not using words such as “just”, “simply”, “small favour”.
A in her words “I worked on my ability to showcase my work, my ideas and the efforts I put, helped me to be bolder and ask out any doubts or concerns I have in mind instead of avoiding them which in turn had a positive impact on the standard of my work, my confidence and my satisfaction level while doing a work.”
N in her words, “I worked on voicing out my opinions and concerns. This has increased my self-confidence and also has helped me in achieving better results in the work that I do.”