Backing yourself isn’t arrogance—it's clarity about your value. A concept that becomes critical as you advance in your career. Particularly when self-leadership and confidence in your abilities are expected, but you may not have that same level of support you had earlier in your career
Backing yourself isn’t arrogance—it's clarity about your value. A concept that becomes critical as you advance in your career. Particularly when self-leadership and confidence in your abilities are expected, but you may not have that same level of support you had earlier in your career.
In this episode, I'm exploring the powerful idea of backing yourself in your career. Inspired by a quote from Maya Angelou, I can't underestimate the importance of self-advocacy, especially in times of uncertainty and change.
Research shows that women who take ownership of their careers are more likely to be seen as leaders and promoted.
So, start small, but take control of your career today!
Links we talked about on the podcast include:
The RISE Accelerate program - JOIN THE WAITLIST
Free Guide: The Executive Woman's Guide to Strategic Self-Promotion
Free Guide: How to Make Your Value More Visible at Work
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[00:00:00] Gillian: If you don't have a seat at the table, bring your own chair. This is a quote by Maya Angelou and it's a beauty, right? Mia was a renowned American poet and civil rights activist and she has had so many quotes that have inspired me over the years and this one in particular resonated with me deeply. I just love the humour in it as well.
[00:00:21] Gillian: But it communicates all the right messages, right? Just bring your own chair. I also remember Maya saying, I have my own back and that idea, it really stuck with me because it's simple, but it's also powerful. Think about it. When you truly have your own back at work, what big decisions do you make? Like, what do you do differently?
[00:00:44] Gillian: You definitely act differently. I mean, how would having your own back more often at work make you feel? What could you create more of in your career if you knew you were your own strongest advocate?
[00:01:45] Gillian: Now, I know this topic isn't new, but it just feels so much more relevant right now. I feel there's so much going on for people and the business landscape. It's really defined by a lot of change.
[00:01:59] Gillian: When I'm coaching women or facilitating discussions in corporate workshops, or maybe in the RISE Accelerate programs, the conversation almost always revolves around change. Now, this could be talking about a big restructure, new leadership, maybe a merger that feels like it's going on and on and on. You only need to read the paper right now to see how much is going on, and most of these things generate a sense of disruption.
[00:02:27] Gillian: And I'm not saying that all change is negative by any means. Change can be unbelievably positive, but it's the uncertainty that can make us wobble. When I speak to women and look across that business landscape right now, what is clear is that change is a major driving force behind a lot of career challenges. And change can either help or hinder our success, you know that, but it all comes down to how we respond to it.
[00:02:55] Gillian: And when I think about the last few years, it has been a whirlwind and I'm not a big one on reflection to be quite honest with you. I'm more excited about the future, but the last few years have been a little crazy for everyone from the pandemic to wars, to global politics that could give anyone a nervous switch, and so much more.
[00:03:14] Gillian: Recently, I came across a fascinating piece of research from PwC, and it stated that nearly half of workers worldwide have had to learn new skills just to keep up with changes in their roles. How wild is that? So there's a thing I often talk about, how do you stay valued and contemporary in your workplace?
[00:03:38] Gillian: I feel it's more relevant than ever. But you need to back yourself. You need to back yourself. I remember when I started to think about branching out and starting my own business, it was a very big decision at the time, and I had no clients lined up. I just had this burning desire to make it work.
[00:03:57] Gillian: You know, it was kind of naivety at its best, really. And when I shared this dream, this desire to start my own business, I shared it with my husband. Obviously, I needed to get him on board. And I'm sure if I shared it to most people, they would just think, it sounded like some wild little fantasy.
[00:04:16] Gillian: But when I did share it with my husband, I pitched the idea to him. I just remember this so clearly. He looked at me and said, you should do it, Gil. I'll back you no matter what happens, but I think you'll be great. And those words meant the world to me at the time, because there's such power in having people who believe in you, right.
[00:04:36] Gillian: But here's the thing. Sometimes we rely on others to back us too much in our careers. The most important person whose support you need, is you. It comes down to your self-belief and your willingness to back yourself, especially in those moments when you're tested or when you want to push forward.
[00:04:59] Gillian: Backing yourself takes courage because yes, you don't always know that you're going to get it right, but at its core, it's about owning your career. And you know, what a big advocate I am of that. As Carol Bartz, ex CEO of Yahoo said, no one cares that much about your career, except you and your Mum. And she's right.
[00:05:21] Gillian: Like it's up to us. We have to back ourselves, because when you do, you make decisions, you take action. And when you don't, you're in limbo, you're waiting, you’re second guessing. You're letting doubt creep in. I'm not good enough to speak up. Well, let's see what others think first.
[00:06:15] Gillian: I've always believed that you set the standard for how others see you. If you don't believe in yourself, why should anyone else? Like you've got to believe in yourself at work. You've got to believe in your value, the value that you bring to the table. And if you don't have that belief, others won't. And this is more evident the more senior you become. It's so much more important because the sad fact is people just don't look out for you in the same way they did when you were younger. And it's not because they don't like you. It's just that there's a lot going on. So the ball is in your court more than ever. People expect you to lead. It's a self-leadership piece.
[00:06:56] Gillian: It's so easy to think about in extremes, but backing yourself isn't about being arrogant. It's just not. It's about being clear on what you bring to the table. And owning it unapologetically. Now, in my experience of helping women articulate their value, it makes all the difference to your career.
[00:07:15] Gillian: It makes a difference to the relationships that you attract in business and how you feel about yourself. In the RISE Accelerate program, like very early on in the program, I introduce women to a powerful exercise that helps them immediately understand their strengths and how they're perceived by others.
[00:07:34] Gillian: So they do this through carefully designed activities and questions, and they get to discover their professional brand. How they're experienced at work, their future potential, and so much more. It is the first step towards gaining clarity and confidence as we start our 90-day journey in the program together.
[00:07:54] Gillian: I absolutely love it because you see too often. I see women downplaying their achievements that just waiting for someone else to recognise their contribution. But here's the truth. When you back yourself, you take control of the narrative. You don't wait for someone else to validate your work. You claim it.
[00:08:12] Gillian: McKinsey's research, Women in The Workplace. It's a very big piece of research. It shows that women who do take ownership of their careers, especially during times of uncertainty, are more likely to be seen as leaders and get promoted. So what does that look like in practice? It's stepping up. It's not waiting for permission.
[00:08:33] Gillian: It's being the one to raise your hand for a project, speak up in meetings, ask for that promotion, pursuing what is important to you. So think about it. What would it mean for you if you consistently showed others the value you bring, what would that change the way people see you? When you back yourself, you're not just boosting your confidence.
[00:08:57] Gillian: You're sending a clear message that you know your worth and you expect others to recognise it too. Now on that note, I should mention I've just got a little note for myself here, that I've created a free guide on how to make your value more visible at work. And in this guide, I share three strategies to amplify your accomplishments, and you can find that on our website, yourbrilliantcareer.com.au under Resources, but I will also leave a link in the show notes. And I think it links very nicely to what we're talking about today. You can also pop your name on the wait list for the RISE Accelerate program. We will be running another program in the new year, which will probably be here before we know it, right?
[00:09:40] Gillian: So get your name down, so you know what's happening. And again, I'll just pop that link into the show notes as well. Alrighty, to wrap up today's episode, I want to bring this back to you. Backing yourself isn't just something that’s needed right now because of what's happening in the business world.
[00:09:59] Gillian: It's something you need to practice all the time. And it's about shifting how you think. When you feel stuck or uncertain, ask yourself, what would change if I backed myself in this moment? Like what's one small thing I can take today to trust my instincts, to act with confidence and to take more control.
[00:10:19] Gillian: And the answer to those questions is the key to navigating change and building the career you want. Think about where you need to bring focus to this. Like just start small, but start now because the decisions you make today, they're going to shape your future. And I know that one day, maybe just 12 months from now, you'll look back and you will be so glad that you chose to back yourself.
[00:10:44] Gillian: That is all for me this week. Have a great few weeks. I'll be returning with some super guests. I have lined up for you. We are talking about influencing senior leaders. And I also have a guest talking about moving from leader to executive. So powerful. And if you've ever toyed with the idea of, one day moving onto boards, we're going to be talking about some of those transitions as well and how you might get the ball rolling.
[00:11:09] Gillian: I don't want to give any more away. I'm going to stop talking. Thank you so much for listening and I'll see you again soon.