Do you deserve a seat at the table? Yes, you do. Sometimes you might feel the opposite. Whether your age, years of experience, or industry change can be tough. Don’t let that inhibit you from following through or being productive. Some of us get this feeling. I am 100% guilty of it. I struggle with imposter syndrome. There are moments when I feel like hiding or just complying, even when I disagree. That little voice in my head could push me to sabotage my potential at my company or life in general. I had to learn there’s a difference between my mind tricking me into thinking that I don’t deserve a seat and that being the truth. Pretty sure a few of our peers feel the same. Even you reading this might feel that way. It’s okay to have those feelings. Don’t let them be your setback. I want to share my story and some daily tips on breaking that mental barrier

So, I work on getting myself out of my comfort zone. Someone once told me, “Get comfortable with being uncomfortable.” Writing a blog (like this one) or speaking up at work tend to be areas that make me uncomfortable. That’s why I love doing them. You get so much satisfaction out of doing the tough stuff. Step by step, those pushes turn into milestones. Since I started working at Inrupt, I decided to create my voice and seat. Somedays, I struggle, and on other days it’s easy. Over the last ten months, I have made great milestones within the company and my personal life. Those triumphs inspire me to push myself out of complacency to gain confidence when there’s uncertainty. This leads to my next point.

It’s okay not to have all the answers. Seriously. Unless you are an encyclopedia (which, if you are, teach me your ways), you’re not going to have all the answers. Be honest with the people around you and let them know you don’t have the answer, but you can find out. Not knowing doesn’t make you any less of a person or qualified for your role. Even doctors are befuddled sometimes. In actuality, not knowing everything shows that you’re human and relatable. We want to create connections with our peers or coworkers because that leads to strong and genuine ties. This helps to build a support system.

The people behind you can make or break you. The different people in your life offer unique experiences to see things from a new perspective. One lesson I have recently learned from a few people in my system is not to short-change myself. Downplaying your role or abilities plays into the imposter syndrome mind games. I would have noticed I fell into this trap if it wasn’t for my support system observing and giving me constructive feedback when needed. It’s okay to be humble, but remember that you helped make this happen for yourself along with your support system.

These are just a few things helping me keep knowing I have a seat at the table. They may not work for you, and that’s okay. It took months, if not years, of trial and error to get here. I hope when reading this, you feel affirmed and know you do deserve a seat. It’s time to find out what helps you build your confidence and use those tools to propel yourself forward.