As a new exec, do you feel like you haven’t yet earned the right to speak up? Yes, you got the seat at the table when you took the role. But as we mentioned before, if you haven’t prepared to perform, you are feeling both shame and self-doubt.
You may be thinking, “If I missed the preparation portion of execing correctly, how can I even hold down my seat at the table?” This combined with what we talked about last week, prioritizing facts over relationships, and you have a recipe for disaster.
Know this, if your role comes with a seat at the table, and most executive positions do, you are expected to fill that seat on day 1 and use that seat to influence the path of the organization.
Filling the seat is not a perk, it’s an expectation.
Let’s be very clear about that.
Many women feel like they aren’t yet ready, haven’t earned the right quite yet, maybe feel the need to prove themselves, or simply want to know a bit more about the role before they speak up.
While I can hear the rationalization in all of those concepts, do not step into this pitfall.
Speaking up, adding value, and owning your seat is an expectation of your role. Period.
The longer you delay in owning it, the longer you delay your performance results.
As a new executive, you have a small window of time to generate results or you will be asked to vacate the seat and maybe even the company.
Take your seat, use your voice, share your knowledge and insight, and move the business forward. You will learn as you go. You will gain insight from others in the room as you speak, ask questions, share concepts, and add value.
Do not hold back.
Get the workbook to help you with this pitfall. Schedule a call with the Legend Leaders team if you want additional support.
Be Legendary!