Making Space in “The Room” Confidently

Reaching the last of our quarterly seminars before we start the new school year, we’ve learnt quite a lot from the diverse range of speakers. Our speakers - Jasty, Shweta, Paula and Muzz - all gave amazing advice, all from different walks of life. Most importantly, they all related to the idea of being “the only one like you in the room”. The consensus - find the right tools to help you stay in the room - comfortably and confidently. Here are some key take-home messages:

1. The importance of the right mentorship. Finding the right mentors will help your growth and outlook, allowing you to get into the right mentality. Don’t be afraid to look outside of your immediate circle, and explore all options (i.e. LinkedIn, conference networking opportunities, etc.)
   

2. Find your community. Finding the right representation in or outside your field can provide you with the space and confidence to be your most authentic self, and help you find your sense of belonging. A group’s energy is not only infectious (in a good way) but will help break you out of a rhythm of self-doubt.
   

3. Lean on your support system when you need it. Comradery allows work to become larger than itself and helps see your work and effort from a different perspective.
   

4. Remind yourself that you are putting in the work (and keep track of successes no matter how small).
   

5. Embrace your “failures” and be wary of perfectionism. Sometimes you can be your harshest critic - be careful to be sincere and understand that one individual cannot know everything, and we are learning every day. It can be easy to fall into a defeatist attitude otherwise.
   

6. Keep space for mindfulness. Taking breaks for your mental health should be welcome and will help you get in the right mentality to be able to accomplish all that you desire.