Raise your hand
I was recently at a networking event and the group was sharing quotes that impacted their careers. One that struck me was, “Always say ‘yes’ and then say ‘how.’” How many times have you not raised your hand in a meeting to volunteer for a project because you didn’t know exactly how to do it? How many times have you not applied for a job because you did not have all the experience in the job description? What have you passed up that could have had a profound impact on your career and your life? It sounds simple to just raise your hand but how can you do this with confidence?
Keep your resume updated- I don’t mean this in a literal sense. Often, we only reflect on our experiences when we are updating our resume, which is generally not very often. However, to prepare yourself to say “yes,” I recommend keeping an ongoing list of the projects you have worked on, what new skills you have learned, and what ongoing educational classes you have attended. Reviewing this periodically will remind you of your capability and give you the confidence to raise your hand for the next opportunity.
Use your resources – None of us work in a vacuum. Have confidence that you are not going to be given a new project and then just sent off to complete it. Gather all the information available on the project you have volunteered to complete. Set up meetings with stakeholders to discuss expectations, timelines, and resources (budget and people) and to ask for advice. Use readily available templates and tools and modify them for your project. These might be from other projects you or others have worked on or from the internet. Remember that information is power. The more you know, the more successful you will be.
Get working – Once you have gathered information, tools, and templates, develop your plan. What are the major activities that need to be completed and the minor tasks supporting those activities? Think about dependencies. What resources do you need to complete those activities? Who needs to do the task and by what date does it need to be completed? In addition to planning, develop a list of project risks and tactics to mitigate the risks. Think “If this, then that.” In the end, you will encounter obstacles and mistakes along the way no matter how well you planned. In some cases, you can solve the problem on your own and move forward. In other cases, pull in others to help with problem-solving.
We can’t grow professionally without taking risks and jumping in so, raise your hand! If you want to talk more about building your confidence for the next great project, book a free discovery session. Good luck!