Cultivating Confidence Outside of Expertise
Building Resilience in Evolving Work Environments
I’m not sure I’ve ever worked in a role that was entirely in my comfort zone. Honestly, do any of us start out feeling that way?
I’ve been thinking about this more and more after spending a few days in March (as part of the Office of the CTO team) steeped in our Chief Futurist Mike Bechtel's latest SXSW feature: Breadth is the New Depth: Why the Future Favors Learn-it-alls Over Know-it-alls.
In a world where breadth is the new depth, and knowing how to learn might be the most valuable expertise of all, we have to constantly carve out space to feel at home in whatever new role we land. I, for instance, am not a technologist. I studied anthropology, bio, history, and… maritime things, yet I have spent the last 9 years in tech-focused roles, including over 5 years working with technology executives. While the sense of “What am I doing here?!” has never fully subsided, my belief in the value I provide has grown. As change is accelerating, I expect that more of us will feel like outsiders as we try to build confidence in new roles, functions, and settings.
There’s no shortage of evidence in the value of diverse teams and perspectives. There is also inherent value in fostering cross-functionality, which makes your presence as a self-perceived outsider inherently valuable. Breaking traditional silos can increase efficiency and innovation1, making connections that might lead to the next big breakthrough.
Still, in case you’re eager for more research: five years ago, a study also highlighted the importance of continuous learning in a rapidly changing job market. They uncovered that global companies are hindered by skills shortages in their attempts to harness growth from new tech2. This trend has and will continue to escalate, increasing the value of being a continuous learner and an adaptable employee.
Okay, we can read the research about adaptability making us valuable, but how do we make ourselves confident in our adaptability and defeat impostor syndrome? Here are a few things I’d suggest to build a sense of belonging as you evolve your career:
1. Active participation is a powerful tool. Especially when you aren’t sure if your voice belongs. Join conversations outside of your comfort zone, maybe mostly in listening mode to start, but eventually seek to contribute. As one of my favorite social media personalities would put it, “Just do it scared.”3 During your team’s next brainstorming session, don’t let yourself melt into the background like that Homer Simpson GIF, say your idea out loud because it’s probably a good one.
2. When others say your POV is valuable, believe them. This is not the time or place for self-deprecation and deflection. Let their confidence in you contribute to your confidence in yourself. Repetition is powerful when you’re building habits. If I’m struggling to believe a piece of positive feedback, sometimes I’ll repeat it to my partner or a friend and watch them believe it for me. Powerful stuff seeing yourself through their eyes.
3. Build connections with your team that are not strictly business. Getting to know the people you work with not only builds comfort but can also be a catalyst for you to create more value on the team. Not to mention, it's going to make your days a heck of a lot more enjoyable. I will always support a casual, virtual coffee date between teammates, giving yourselves the chance to step away from tactical conversations. An intentional revamp of the water cooler chat.
4. Figure out your non-negotiables. They might include staying within a specific industry or function where you feel grounded or identifying a person/ team that will energize you to show up and be creative every day. For me, it’s all about working with and for people that let me be me while pushing me to learn and grow.
5. Intentionally build community outside of work as well. Not only will joining new communities expose you to fresh ideas and ways of thinking and operating, but it will also help to build your support system and resilience. You will see the benefits of cross-pollination of ideas with those who are not your co-workers. You’ll also see an increased confidence that will spill into your work as you navigate new and different roles outside of your traditional expertise. I joined a knitting group in my town, looking to spend more time in person with grown-ups (#toddlermom). It turned out to also be a hiking group that opened more opportunities for connection. Now, we’re all just friends looking out for one another—it’s changed my entire perspective on what community can do.
Don’t forget that we are, after all, not robots. We are whole people: the sum of our lives impacts how we show up and push ourselves into new horizons at work. I wish you luck on your journey to find a role and a community that feels like home. I hope you seek out experiences, opportunities, and conversations that push your boundaries and allow you to grow. And remember, when the path is unclear, to “just do it scared.” You might be surprised at the shift your comfort zone can make when you let yourself believe you belong.
— Haley Gove Lamb, Manager within the Office of the CTO
Thank you for this awesome article Haley!!