Want to Get Noticed at Work? Three Things Women Could Be
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Sometimes you wonder: “Why did he get promoted?” “What was it about me that seems to blend
into the background?” “Why could I be doing differently?” “Why am I stuck?”



and...



“Why do I sometimes feel like I’m missing something?”



We have all felt that way at some point, whether as a lowly intern or a senior principal. The big
secret that we sometimes forget to share is that no matter where you are in your career, there are
times where you are completely comfortable, times when you feel like a giant fraud, and times
when you think if you had just a bit more time you might just get what everyone else seems to be
talking about.



The good news is that being both confused at times and being amazing at times is normal. The
bad news is that sometimes, as women, we can get in the way of our own career
success...without really realizing it. So here are three things to think about to help you stand out
and get noticed for all of the great things that you are doing!



1. Speak up, even if you are confused or feel out of your depth. If you are confused by a task
or in a meeting, there is a very real possibility that at least one other person is also confused (or,
if a large meeting, many other people). Do not let this feeling stop you from contributing, or at
least from asking a question...if only to clarify what is going on. Case in point: years ago I was
at a meeting with a bunch of Air Force officers. Their use of acronyms was fast and loose, and
one whole slide felt like just a weird re-writing of the alphabet.



Assuming that I (the only woman, and the most junior) was just clueless and out of my depth, I
didn’t say anything...at first. But then, when they skipped over a bunch of stuff I gathered up my
courage and asked: “Wait, you moved quickly, would you mind going over that last point/
acronym briefly so I can capture it for our notes?” Lo and behold - not only did the presenter not
know what the acronym he was talking about stood for...but NO ONE else in the room knew
either. A room full of senior folks, with grey hair and serious titles. Chuckles ensured, the
conversation changed, and I was included more in the big picture thinking. This ultimately led
to me getting my first project to run...and landing a promotion.
If I had stayed quiet and in
my “I’m a clueless sucky junior person” mentality - things might have been very different.



LESSON: Everyone, at every level in the corporate hierarchy, has moments where they are
feeling out of their depth. But you don’t need to let that feeling shut you down. When you
ask a great question or contribute something to the larger conversation, people notice.
Challenge yourself to ask one great question or make one good comment at your next
meeting or interaction. See how that makes you feel.




2. Don’t apologize for having something to offer, please believe in yourself and your
abilities.
When I was MUCH more senior in my career, I remember going to an all-Principals
meeting feeling terrified. This was a room full of people who used to be my superiors, and now I
was joining them as an equal. A somewhat lesser equal in my mind, because I felt like at any
second they would discover that promoting me was a giant mistake, and me and my shoe
collection should be sent packing. I can remember prefacing each remark I made with something
self-deprecating, when I bothered to speak up at all!



It took me FOREVER to learn that the only person who didn’t believe in myself was me. And
that additionally, my insecurity was driving me to sit back, not contribute, be awkward and
stressed in meetings, and apologize before I made any kind of remark. If fact, it took a kind
mentor to point out to me that I had apologized upwards of seven times during one two-hour
presentation. Seven times? Not a shining moment for me. But I was grateful to her, because she
made sure to drive the point home: I had nothing to apologize for.



LESSON: Don’t apologize for having something to offer in a meeting or in your work.
Save your apologies for true mistakes. Your opinion and expertise does not fall under this
category. If you want to challenge yourself, take a second and notice how many times you
apologize or feel like less than you are in one day. If you catch yourself, just take a breath
and remember that you have nothing to apologize for!




3. Take up space. So, I’ve been 5’8” since I was 12. It took the boys four loooooong years to
catch up with me. Because of those years I developed a terrible case of tall girl syndrome, for
years I kept trying to make myself smaller. I didn’t want to be the giant in the room, that person
who immediately stuck out as big and awkward. My subsequent terrible posture and desk
hunchiness have made me come across as small or insecure in meetings before....and like it or
not, people judge you on what you are saying with your body. As women, we are taught to cross
our legs and be lady-like, but if you take it too far it can hurt your career. Studies have shown
that we are unconsciously influenced in big decisions (who to hire at an interview for example)
by strong or weak body language! So, take a look at how you are sitting and standing. Are you
standing confidently, or are you accidentally sending the message that you don’t want to be
noticed? Whether in a meeting or just during a conversation. !



LESSON: Like it or not, how we sit and stand can bring us good, or bad, attention. Take
the challenge to set your iphone or outlook calendar to ping at different random times
during the day, and when it goes off check your body language and see if you’ve been
caught in a low-power pose, or if you are sitting with pride (here’s hoping the pride thing
happens!).