Show Notes
Today’s episode is How to Be an Insider. We’ll talk about things that you can do to make sure you’re included.
There are many ways that you, as a woman engineer, are excluded in the workplace. Ways that you’re kept on the outside. This has a negative effect on the impact you can have. And on the level of career fulfillment you experience.
I’m not diving into all those issues today. But it turns out that there are some ways that you may be contributing to your own exclusion. Some conditions that keep you on the outside but are also under your control.
Here is list of 5 of them. See which ones resonate with you. See if you can think of a situation at work where these conditions were at play. And afterward I’ll give you some ideas for breaking down the barriers that these conditions create.
Ways You May Be Playing a Role in Your Own Exclusion
- Stereotype Threat – the risk of confirming negative stereotypes. Thinking of yourself as a less-than engineer because (in the stereotype) that’s what people expect you to be.
- Imposter Syndrome. Thinking of yourself as in the wrong place because you’re not like the other engineers here. Feeling like your hiring was some sort of mistake and people are gonna find out you don’t belong.
- The Trance of Unworthiness. Thinking of yourself as not good enough, not smart enough, or not experienced enough based on stories you’ve been told throughout your lifetime. (This comes from Victoria Castle’s book The Trance of Scarcity.)
- The Competence Pursuit Thinking that your top priority is showing your competence as an engineer. Engaging in an all-work-and-no-play, risk averse, perfectionistic approach. (This is related to “prove-it-again” bias in What Works for Women at Work.)
- The Pedestal View. Thinking of others as having more clout, credibility, power, rank, or prestige than you. Thinking they are untouchable, and you are a step below. They are off limits except to others of their caliber. You can work for them but not with them.
We could probably do an individual episode on each one of these conditions. For now, though, I just want you to be familiar with them. So that you can recognize when they’re in play. That in itself will do a lot to bring down some barriers.
Be confident that you belong on the inside and you have the power to transform from a place of exclusion. To help you make that transformation in your career, here are some insights for being included. For becoming an insider.
Ideas for How to Be an Insider
- To be an insider, raise your perception of yourself as a capable and awesome engineer. Accept and value what you know right now and what your experience is. You know what you need to know and have what you need to have exactly when you need it.
- To be an insider, remember that you have something to contribute. Your perception and viewpoint are important and needed.
- To be an insider, let go of the notion that you have to keep proving your competence. You are competent. And the only person that needs to know that is you. Let go of perfectionism and embrace vulnerability. Make mistakes and learn from them.
- To be an insider, envision who and how you want to be as an engineer and leader, and embody that vision. Then use that vision to build the courage and confidence you need to engage on a par with your coworkers and contribute your strengths and skills.
- To be an insider, remember we are all just people. You have a place along with everyone else. Reject the idea that there are walls that divide or classes that separate. Remove the invisible barriers that keep us from accomplishing our mission.
The reason it’s hard is because you’re a woman in the world of engineering. And the engineering world is still getting used to you. Even after all these years.
I don’t deny that there are systemic and cultural issues in play that sometimes keep you on the outside. And you don’t have control over that. But I want you to be empowered to act on what you do have control over. You have more power than you think.
I know you have what it takes to be the expert engineer and savvy leader you wish to be. My goal is to help you know it too, and that it shines in your work every day.
Through my Signature Program I can help you apply your power and gain more fulfillment and influence in your career. It’s easy to fill out an application. We can schedule a discovery call and talk about how we’ll work together.
Next time on Her Engineering Career Podcast I’ll share some tips for settling in after you’ve taken a new job. I hope you’ll join me for Episode 39.