Lean Out Loud #3: Strategies for Overcoming Workplace Obstacles and Empowering Yourself

Are you tired of feeling silenced and overlooked in the workplace?

Do you find yourself constantly battling against toxic personalities that seem determined to hold you back?

It's time to start "Leaning out Loud."

The Lean Out Loud method is a powerful tool for overcoming professional and personal obstacles and empowering yourself to take control of your life.

In this week's newsletter, we'll explore strategies for dealing with some of the most challenging personalities you may encounter in the workplace, including mansplainers, narcissists, and dream killers.

With the Lean Out Loud method, you'll learn how to develop the confidence and resilience to overcome any obstacle and achieve your goals.

?? In order to build a more equitable and inclusive workplace, it's important to address the obstacles that can prevent us from reaching our full potential.

After working on corporate level for over 20+ years and holding executive leadership positions, I have a lot to share about this topic.

There's no workplace that's perfect and some of the biggest challenges that many of us face is dealing with leaders, co-workers and frenemies with personalities rooted in mansplaining, narcissism and killing our hopes and dreams.

Being around these toxic personalities and behaviors can erode our confidence and prevent us from doing our jobs, living our best lives and achieving our goals.

However, by using the Lean Out Loud method, we can develop strategies to overcome these obstacles and thrive in our careers.

Not familiar with any mansplainers, narcissists and dream killers?

Count your blessings.

Here's a quick overview:

?? Mansplaining is a term that describes the tendency of men to explain things to women in a condescending or patronizing way, even when the woman has equal or superior knowledge and experience on the topic. For example, a female blockchain engineer might be interrupted and talked over by a male colleague during a meeting, despite having more experience in the field. This behavior can be frustrating and can make women feel undervalued and disrespected in the workplace.

?? Narcissism is a personality trait characterized by a sense of entitlement, a need for admiration, and a lack of empathy for others. Narcissists may take credit for others' work, talk excessively about their achievements, and belittle the contributions of their colleagues. For example, a team member might dismiss the ideas of others and constantly seek attention and praise for themselves, which can lead to a toxic and unproductive work environment.

?? Dream killing refers to the act of discouraging someone from pursuing their dreams or aspirations. This can be done with good intentions, such as a parent discouraging their child from pursuing a career in the arts due to financial concerns, or a peer/colleague telling someone they're not smart enough to get promoted to a leadership role. These negative comments can lead to self-doubt and prevent people from pursuing their passions.

?? To mentally prepare yourself for dealing with these behaviors and personalities, it's important to recognize that their behavior is not a reflection of what your worth and or your abilities.

As individuals, it is often easy to feel responsible for the behavior of others, particularly in the workplace where we are constantly interacting with a variety of personality types.

Remember that ultimately, we're the only ones responsible for our own actions and reactions.

The power to respond assertively and confidently lies within each of us, and developing this skill is key to overcoming workplace obstacles.

One technique that can be particularly helpful is mindfulness or visualization.

By staying centered and focused in the present moment, we're better able to respond to negative behavior in a way that is productive and effective.

Visualization techniques can also be useful for mentally preparing for difficult conversations or situations. Train yourself to go into meetings being 150% positive and where you're mindset ignores all feelings of negativity, dread and fear. Only you can control your feelings.

By envisioning ourselves responding assertively and confidently, we can build the resilience and confidence needed to navigate any workplace challenge.

Remember, the power to respond in a way that's assertive and confident lies within each of us, and by practicing mindfulness and visualization, we can develop the skills needed to overcome any obstacle.

Creating a better workplace environment is a process that requires time, patience, and a steadfast commitment to change. Again, it doesn't happen overnight and sometimes it may never happen.

While it can be tempting to become frustrated or disheartened when faced with ongoing challenges, it's important to remember that progress is possible with persistence and dedication.

Addressing toxic behavior in the workplace requires speaking up and challenging these behaviors, even when it may feel uncomfortable or daunting. By doing so, we create a ripple effect that extends beyond ourselves and benefits those around us.

Each instance of standing up against toxic behavior sends a message that these types of actions will not be tolerated, ultimately shifting the culture of the workplace in a positive direction.

It's important to recognize that change takes time and that setbacks may occur along the way. However, by remaining persistent and committed to creating a better future, we can build a workplace culture that is inclusive, respectful, and supportive.

?? Now, let's dive into 4 strategies to help you deal with mansplaining, narcissism, and dream killing:

1. Speak up and assert yourself. If you're being mansplained to or dismissed by a narcissistic colleague, don't be afraid to assert yourself and speak up. Communicate clearly and confidently, and don't let others talk over you or belittle your contributions. Remember that your voice matters and your ideas are valuable.
2. Build a support network. Surround yourself with colleagues who believe in you and support your goals. Seek out mentors and allies who can offer guidance and help you navigate workplace challenges. Having a supportive network can give you the confidence and resilience to handle difficult situations.
3. Stay focused on your goals. Don't let dream killers derail your aspirations. Stay true to your passions and stay focused on your goals, even if others doubt your abilities. Use their negative comments as motivation to prove them wrong and achieve your dreams.
4. Lead by example. As a leader, you have the power to create a positive and inclusive workplace culture. Set an example by valuing the contributions of all team members, and by speaking up against toxic behaviors like mansplaining and narcissism. By modeling the behavior you want to see in others, you can create a more supportive and respectful workplace for everyone.

In closing, I encourage all of you to use the Lean Out Loud method to overcome workplace obstacles and achieve your goals.

By mentally preparing yourself, speaking up, building a support network, staying focused on your goals, and leading by example, you can create a workplace culture that values and respects all team members.

?? If you found value in this newsletter, please like and share it with others who might benefit from this guidance.

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