How to regain your social power in a corporate setting.
“What can I do, I am only a Junior in this organisation.” If you had asked me to take a decision two years ago in my organisation that would have been one of the long dialogue questions I would ask myself and chances are that I would not give a definite answer or give an honest opinion or contribute to decision making.
As I keep growing and develop myself both socially and professionally, I have noticed of how much I have changed from the mindset of “I am only a Junior”. I have been in my organisation for 3 good years and so far it has been wonderful. It has not been all sunshine and I have to adjust a few things that made the environment to be one where I can thrive, grow and be the positive person that I am today.
I come from a social background where much respect is given to the elders and members of the society that are deemed to have higher social ranking. That social construct has been wired into our brains that it causes inner conflicts when dealing with corporate matters. Here are three main things that I had to deconstruct my mind from to help me navigate better in corporate world and regain my social power.
- All employees of your organisation are your colleagues and you should treat them as such. This will allow you to recognize that every action you take does affect your colleagues and your contributions do matter even when you are in a junior role.
- Memorize your colleagues names so that you can address them by they names in all interactions no matter how small. This will help you flatten the corporate social structures influenced by social seniority, tittles and ranks.
Lastly let me leave you with my favourite quote by Shawn “Jay-Z” Carter that says “I Walk in every room as yourself.” I use this quote every time I have a meeting so that I can always have my social power with me.