Some time ago, I was invited to be part of the planning committee for a business seminar. It was an opportunity that came with both excitement and a bit of intimidation. I was excited because I would have the chance to contribute my knowledge to the success of such a great event. It was also an opportunity for me to learn new things about organizing large-scale events and to gain insights from other accomplished individuals who had already made names for themselves in society.
On the other hand, I felt intimidated whenever I remembered that I would be working alongside seasoned business men and women, people who had achieved remarkable success in their professions and various fields of endeavor. To make matters more daunting, I was the youngest in the group. "Small me in the midst of these people," I thought to myself with a mix of humor and doubt.
Soon, self-doubt sets in, and I started questioning whether I could contribute anything meaningful in the presence of such accomplished individuals. Thoughts like, What if I make a mistake? or What if they think I am too young? kept ringing in my mind.
This fear of not being good enough almost made me refuse the task I was assigned and other responsibilities. However, I realized that this was an opportunity to grow, and running away would only make my self-doubt worse. Here’s how I turned things around:
Strategies I Used to Overcome Self-Doubt:
Acknowledging My Strengths: I reminded myself of the skills and knowledge I had gained from previous projects that I have handled in other organizations Rotary/Rotaract club included, my passion for learning, and my ability to connect with people. Immediately, i focused more on what I brought to the table rather than what I thought I lacked.
Mindset Shift : I quickly recalled that our mindset towards different situations can make or mar us. Immediately I stopped view the event as a test of my ability and started seeing it as an opportunity of team working with others and making everyone's input count. This mindset made me less focused on impressing others and more concerned on doing my best to make the event work.
Preparation and Research : It is often said that he who fails to plan is planning to fail . Knowing this , I become more curious of understanding the goals of the event, research more on how such events are being done and the varieties to bring in just to make the event a success.
Positive Visualization : Before every meeting I visualized myself giving positive contributions and being a valuable part of the team instead of seeing my self as the youngest. That alone boosted my confidence.
Doing Away with the ETUK syndrome : In my dialect ETUK means SMALL. With the help of the first four points and God by my side, I was able to do away with the thought that I was too small to handle such task in the midst of such individuals. The "Etuk syndrome" was overcomed .
The Outcome
The success recorded during the summit was huge, I even enjoyed working with the people I was assigned to and I learnt a lot from their wealth of experience. The summit was also an opportunity for me to network and contribute my quota to the success of the society.
By the end of the summit, I realized that age or experience wasn’t a limitation, it was about showing up, being authentic, and giving your best. That experience taught me that confidence isn’t the absence of fear; it’s the courage to move forward despite the fears. It also reinforced my belief that growth happens when we step out of our comfort zones and do what we never expected we could.
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NB : All photos are mine.