Hello, My name is Linn Atiyeh, and I'm the CEO of Bemana, a recruiting firm working in the equipment and industrial sector. Thanks for the query. As a woman working in the male-dominated equipment and industrial sector, I've been underestimated a few times. While the best revenge is a job well done, sometimes, you need the power of word-of-mouth to land the project in the first place. That's where networking comes in. To be taken seriously amongst people I haven't worked with before, I rely on a tight knit alliance of co-workers and colleagues ready to vouch for me at a moment's notice. Surrounding myself with like-minded hard-workers allows me to shine though their recommendations, even in the face of bias. Developing these connections can happen quicker than you think -- it just requires an excellent track record, a friendly demeaner, and a willingness point out your victories. Linn Atiyeh Founder & CEO, Bemana https://www.bemana.us/practice-area/industrial-manufacturing/
As a CEO, I have faced situations where I felt that my opinions or ideas were not taken seriously in a work environment. To overcome this challenge and establish credibility, I took proactive steps to be taken seriously at work. Firstly, I focused on building strong relationships and establishing rapport with my colleagues and team members. I made an effort to understand their perspectives, listen actively, and engage in meaningful conversations. By showing respect and valuing their input, I earned their trust and credibility. Secondly, I consistently demonstrated my expertise and knowledge in my field. I sought opportunities to showcase my skills, whether through delivering impactful presentations, sharing insights in meetings, or contributing to important projects. By consistently delivering high-quality work and offering valuable contributions, I established myself as a credible and capable professional.
I worked in a language school as an English teacher, and my students were businessmen. They didn't treat me seriously because of my age and youthful appearance, which felt terribly unfair. At that time, I already had a decent educational background and some professional experience. Though their English was at an elementary level, they kept asking me endless difficult questions to suggest I lacked knowledge. Let me give a few examples. While talking about animals, they asked me about tigon, blue tang, and even naked mole-rat, making funny faces when I told them I needed to check these names in a dictionary. When we moved to the unit "Household," they were desperate to discuss textured plaster and building mortar. I was tired of being constantly examined. Well, desperate times call for desperate measures. I started each class with a vocabulary test, including naked mole-rat and so on. I stopped when they stopped. It didn't take them long to learn THAT lesson.
Yes, I have been in such a situation. It was not a fun experience, but I'm proud to say that I overcame it. Here's how. Firstly, I enhanced my professional skills by demonstrating expertise in the field. With time, I earned respect and credibility by continuously improving my knowledge and skills through training and workshops and staying up-to-date with industry trends. Secondly, I took initiative. By proactively taking on additional responsibilities and contributing valuable ideas showed my dedication and commitment to the organization's goals. Thirdly, I mastered communication skills by becoming very articulate verbally and in writing. By polishing this vital skill, I've been able to confidently present my opinions while providing well-reasoned arguments to support my perspectives. Building credibility and being taken seriously takes time but is well worth the effort, but only if you do it for the right, intrinsic reasons.
To be taken seriously in a work environment where I initially felt overlooked, I prioritized investing in myself. I sought continuous professional development opportunities, acquiring new skills, and expanding my knowledge base. I pursued relevant certifications, attended workshops, and engaged in industry networking. Additionally, I proactively sought feedback from mentors and colleagues, actively working on areas of improvement. By focusing on self-growth, I enhanced my confidence, expertise, and credibility.
a climate where the team members enjoy a strong sense of camaraderie and a high work ethic. I enjoy working with smart, kind, and outgoing people who like to get things done. It's important to me that my team members know I constantly require them to give their all. I began quickly to create a strategy for managing my projects. I was able to arrange them based on urgency this way and give each work a deadline I could handle. I focused on accomplishing each task in a team environment. Given the fact that I am competent of working alone, I prefer working in a team. I saw that the job description makes extensive mention of collaboration with other departments and teams, thus I believe I would be effective in this position .When you had to deal with a lot of customer complaints and how you resolved the problem. an occasion when you had to put in a lot of overtime to make a deadline. a situation in which you dealt with a difficult colleague while working on a project.
Seeking a mentor or coach is a proactive step towards personal and professional growth. Having someone guide and support your development can help you navigate workplace dynamics more effectively and enhance your credibility. A mentor or coach can provide valuable advice based on their experience, offer different perspectives, and help you identify areas for improvement. By having regular discussions with your mentor or coach, you can gain insights, learn new strategies, and develop the skills needed to be taken seriously at work. For example, a mentor can help you analyze situations where you weren't taken seriously and provide guidance on assertive communication techniques or strategies to showcase your expertise. They can also offer feedback on your interactions with colleagues and superiors, helping you improve your approach and build stronger relationships.
Building expertise: I focused on expanding my knowledge and skills in my field to become a subject matter expert. This helped me gain confidence and credibility in discussions. Asserting myself: I made a conscious effort to speak up, share my ideas, and contribute in meetings and discussions. I ensured that my voice was heard and that I added value to conversations. Delivering results: I consistently delivered high-quality work and achieved measurable results. By demonstrating my capabilities and the positive impact of my contributions, I gained the respect and recognition of my colleagues. Building relationships: I actively built relationships with colleagues, both within and outside my team. Collaborating, seeking feedback, and establishing supportive connections helped me gain influence and be taken more seriously. Communicating effectively: I refined my communication skills, ensuring clarity and articulation when expressing my ideas or concerns.
Yes, I have been in a work environment where I wasn't taken seriously. When this happened, instead of feeling resentful or powerless, I chose to speak up and stand up for myself by demonstrating my experience and skills. In the beginning, it felt uncomfortable to be so assertive but eventually my colleagues came to see that although I was not the most experienced person in the room, I had something special to contribute. I started with small steps like answering questions during meetings and following through on assigned tasks even if they seemed tedious. This created an opportunity for me to prove that I could handle more challenging tasks and projects which gradually increased respect amongst my peers. I also improved communication with colleagues by better understanding their needs while expressing mine in a respectful manner. These tactics helped build relationships of trust between us which made it easier for others to take me seriously in the workplace setting.
Volunteer for leadership opportunities such as leading a project, managing a team, or organizing an event. By showcasing your capabilities, taking charge, and driving initiatives, you can demonstrate your leadership abilities and gain the respect and recognition of your colleagues and superiors. For example, I experienced not being taken seriously in my previous role, so I volunteered to lead a major project. Taking ownership, delegating tasks effectively, and delivering successful outcomes led to increased credibility and being taken more seriously by my peers and superiors.
Seeking mentorship or coaching is a valuable strategy to gain credibility in a work environment where you are not taken seriously. A mentor or coach can provide guidance, support, and insights to help navigate challenges and develop effective strategies. By having someone experienced in your corner, you can receive personalized advice and learn from their experiences. For example, a junior employee facing skepticism from colleagues sought mentorship from a respected leader in the organization. The mentor provided guidance on building relationships, showcasing expertise, and speaking assertively. This enabled the junior employee to gain credibility, be taken seriously, and eventually earn a promotion.