8 ways to put yourself in the driver’s seat at work
by Michelle Hernandez
When I underwent my new hire orientation with Designit’s Global Head of People, there was one particular slide in the presentation that resonated profoundly with me: When it comes to your talent development, you’re in the driver’s seat. I felt empowered, inspired, but also feelings of FOMO. I started to wonder: I’ve been working in the people space for 10 years — why had no one said anything like this to me before?
Before spiraling into a web of what-ifs and shoulda, coulda, woulda, I walked away feeling grateful that I’d gotten a job at a company that wanted to empower its employees to take charge of their professional destinies, as we all should. Throughout my career as an HR partner, many colleagues have meandered into my office or set up meetings with me to voice feelings of powerlessness, unhappiness, and neglect. My response has always been to coach them, identify solutions, and inspire confidence. While supporting employees in the moment is both critical and rewarding, it’s also a band-aid solution. The question we should be answering is: What can we do to empower ourselves on a daily basis and over time so we never feel powerless?
As someone who coaches others professionally, I want to share some things I’ve learned.
1. You don’t have to know everything. A former CEO once said to me, “No one expects you to know everything. All you need to do is figure out how to get the answer.” This was a simple yet game-changing insight! Up until that moment, I was operating at the level of I-should-know-everything-or-someone-will-think-I-am-a-fraud. But the truth is, no one expects you to know everything. In moments of uncertainty, your job is to be resourceful. The best ideas are usually the most well-researched.
2. Always make time for your manager. I’m saying this ironically because it’s usually the other way around. When I on-board new hires, I urge them to discuss and agree on the level of communication with their manager. Communication is key to a successful and collaborative working relationship. Everyone becomes busy, so you have to work together to prioritize these check-ins. If you find a pattern of cancellations, follow up, ask about availability, and put it on the calendar! Don’t feel like you’re a bother — your manager wants to help shape your development, or else he or she wouldn’t have sought the role in the first place. You just need to nudge!
3. Feedback is a superpower. It can be both terrifying and motivating. But when you are open to it, you set yourself up to evolve while reinforcing the contributions you’ve made. Remind yourself how much more effective you’ll be once you identify and fix your blind spots. Seek feedback regularly — after giving a presentation or conducting a client workshop — and don’t take it personally if the feedback is constructive. Say thank you more if you can. Also, don’t be afraid to pay it forward! If you see a colleague excel, let that person know. It’s such a confidence booster. If you have constructive feedback, ask the person if it’s okay to respectfully share your observations.
4. Speak up. We spend so much of our lives waiting for things to happen, and when it comes to our careers, we tend to acclimatize to our roles and assume that our hard work will get us noticed. These are the same colleagues that have expressed feelings of powerlessness, unhappiness, and neglect. My advice: Speak up! No one can read your mind or help until you say something. And express what you hope for in the long run, whether it’s leading a project, getting a raise, driving a new company initiative, or moving into another field. People easily assume that silence means you’re content. So be your own advocate. Take a risk and make your intentions known.
5. Find your confident self. Plenty of us are still learning the art of confidence and being self-assured. Everyone experiences moments of doubt — we’re human! The trick is to keep those moments temporary. Here’s how: Work with a coach or take a public speaking class. Commit to doing things that push you out of your comfort zone. Confidence will follow. When I’m in low spirits, I wear red lipstick. It makes me feel invincible. I give off the impression that I make stuff happen. On the outside, I am bursting with confidence. On the inside, I am battling self-doubt. Try listening to motivational music on the way to work or giving yourself a mental pep talk throughout the day. Schedule a long-distance run. Find what will ultimately defend you from…you.
6. Keep your eye on the big picture. It’s easy to get swept up in day-to-day tasks, meetings, and projects. The one piece of advice that I continue to put in practice in order to get more gratification from work is to consistently ask myself: What can I do to drive the company forward? It’s important to devote time to passion projects and larger obligations being asked of you. I’ll get to it eventually. We all think that, then never do. At the start of 2019, I re-thought my work calendar. Do I need these meetings this often? On which days should I tackle my bigger projects? I consolidated meetings into specific days in order to secure chunks of time to solve day to day stuff or catch up on emails. Then, I selected one day per work week to devote myself to items that drive the company forward. No meetings. No day-to-day. Just alone with my thoughts to surface new ideas and execute. What is your approach?
7. Consider a mentor. Whether you find one through your company’s mentorship program or your own network, a mentor has real advantages at any stage of your career. A mentor is a soundboard — someone to help tap into your potential — and also a friend who will challenge you and offer perspective. A mentor is typically not your direct manager and is slightly more experienced than you. Before selecting a mentor, figure out what requires attention, what you want to get out of the relationship, and whether this person is someone who you can truly learn from. Is this person committed to your growth? He or she will have to commit time to the relationship. And if it isn’t thriving, evaluate why and part ways if necessary.
8. Pause. Breathe. Recharge. We’ve all been there — drowning in an ocean of work and teetering towards burnout. There’s too much to do, so we easily work nights and weekends. That’s fine if you’re working against an immovable deadline, but don’t make a habit out of it. What employers don’t want is for people to experience symptoms of poor sleep, poor nutrition, lack of quality time with loved ones, and disengagement. So, if you’re feeling burned out, remedy it. Communicate your feelings to your manager so you can come up with a strategy. Or take time off and do something you care about. Just make sure you pause, breathe, and recharge along the way.
And remember this: You are in the driver’s seat.
Here at Designit, we’re always looking for great people who give a damn. So if you’re thinking of a change, check out our open positions from our 17 studios around the world at designit.com/careers
