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Do you have tips for being outside your comfort zone?
At my job, I took on another role that brings me out of my comfort zone but is a great opportunity. Consisting of monthly meetings, thankfully online, I want to put my best foot forward. It’s a great group of people, so that’s not of concern. Still, I can’t help being self-conscious.
Any tips to feel more comfortable?
A couple of us had the chance to meet the executive team. Of course, that day my positioning was off, so for the life of me I couldn’t hold my head up straight. Not only was I a few minutes late because I couldn’t get the link to work but my head was cockeyed the entire time.
I’m sure nobody cared but it threw me off my game. I don’t feel like I was as engaging as I could’ve or should’ve been and it made focusing difficult for me. Maybe I should’ve addressed it but then again, it’s how I roll.
Would you have explained the situation?
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2 Replies
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Ah yes. Been in this predicament many times. As you know from meeting with me for several years, I lay down to take my meetings. My voice decibel also fluctuates. With you, I’m comfortable. You get it. You have SMA, too. With others, I sometimes get stuck in my head.
If I’m meeting with someone one-on-one for the first time, I may email them prior to the meeting to explain that I’m not being lazy. Laying down is my best position for working, but I don’t always have that opportunity, so I just have to own it.
I have met with big companies at my other job. Some days, I become overly self-conscious and stay quiet. But other days, I prove myself to these people. I speak up despite my voice struggles and my lying position and provide value to the meetings.
Truthfully my advice is that no one probably cares lol. And it doesn’t matter how you look or sound. What matters is showing these people you have something valuable to say and deserve a seat at the table. At the end of the meeting, that’s what they will remember.
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Confidence of a drag queen! In my job I often have to talk to governmental agents or lawyers or bankers about my clients. Often times represent them in very difficult situations. Be prepared. If you know what you know, then in what voice you say it, or what clothing or what position, is little on the scale of significance. Stephen Hawking had to type out each word with his eyes. His speeches that were not pre-prepared could take hours and hours. Question and answering was slow. Yet people came from all over the world to hear what he had to say in person. We are lucky that our disease actually comes with an intellectual boost. However, who is going to know what we know unless we tell them. I actually think I have more pushback as a woman, then as a disabled person on people believing I know what I know. But maybe that’s just family dynamics and a lot of males in my family. If you are the boss or in charge of your arena and you act respectively as such, as well as make mindful, intelligent and appropriate decisions with foresight, people will follow you as a leader.
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