Are You Afraid of Being Judged?

How often do you fear being judged by others as not good enough, asking yourself, “why would they listen to me? I’m … [too young, too old, inexperienced, too junior, too new in the role, etc.]. We have worked with and coached thousands of leaders across global regions, functions, levels, and experiences. It no longer surprises us how often they share situations where they hold back or don’t contribute as much as they want to because they feel they are not enough of an expert on the subject as they should be. They lack the confidence in their ability to contribute and provide value, fearing their insights will be deemed naive.

Rather than letting fear hold you back, you should embrace your unique perspective. Billions of dollars are spent each year to have external consultants provide their third-party perspective to a project or initiative. Along that same vein, you were hired into your role because of what you bring – curiosity, creativity, passion, skills, experience, potential, ambition, candor, empathy – whatever it is that makes you who you are. It is rare, and frankly unnecessary to try and find a candidate who is an expert in everything. The most valuable and successful employees have the courage to speak up, ask questions, share feedback, and are open to trying, failing, and learning. The success of your team and organization depends on you not only contributing your expertise, but also providing a third-party perspective when you are not an expert on the topic. Your objectivity may expose a gap that the experts missed or could confirm a theory. And the adage from school applies that if you have a question, others probably do as well.

The fear of being judged as naïve is a negative talk track that will hold you back from reaching your potential. The next time you hear it start telling you to keep quiet and let the experts speak, try putting a new spin on the story. The decision or final product will be much better with your input.