Are You Stunting Your Own Growth?

Issue #39

It’s time for a confession….

I have a very bad habit when attending workshops, conferences, networking events, etc. of assuming those around me are more well versed on the topic, smarter than I am, further and/or farther along on their career paths, etc., etc., etc. You name it, I’ve probably thought it. 🤦🏻‍♀️

I usually sit down quietly, take notes diligently, and don’t speak up or add to the conversation as much as I could or should. And as an introvert, being in a room full of strangers brings with it an added challenge, so double whammy for me.

So I set a new goal for myself a few years back. Now, when I attend an event, I can’t leave until I’ve talked to at least one more person than I really wanted to or raised my hand and shared at least once when I know I have something of value to add. 😂

And last week, while attending a craftsmanship conference in the painting industry (which is not my area of expertise within our business), I made sure to follow through.

Which leads me to today’s lesson….

Stepping Out Of Your Comfort Zone

While I did know a handful of people in attendance, I made a point to start up conversations with people whom I had never met before. I also had some old friends introduce me to some people they said “I just had to meet,” and by the end of the first day, I had double the connections. I also had a dinner invite from an old friend, which led to sitting with people I didn’t know, but do now thanks to a lengthy conversation over a delicious meal. And since this started with a confession, I’m often the person that grabs take out and eats alone in my room, so this was a big step for me too.

By day two, after finding myself seated at the same table with the same group of people (why does that always seem to happen?), my comfort level was much higher. So much so that I raised my hand and chimed in much more than on day one. And afterwards, I had several people comment that what I shared was very helpful.

So the next time you want to do what I always gravitate towards – hiding out in the back of the room with your head down – do yourself a favor and push yourself out of your comfort zone.

The benefits are always twofold, and if you keep all of your thoughts to yourself because you don’t think you’re “qualified” enough to share you’re doing more than yourself a disservice. You never know what impact you might have on someone else.

We’re all works in progress, and the more we can encourage each other to step out of our comfort zones, the faster we’ll all move forward in our growth. 🙂

With you on the journey,

Suhaiba