Unleashing Your Leadership Potential with Five Key Mindsets - Part 2

Author: Sandra Pan Editor: Lydia Tang

Picture this, in a meeting that was intended to be a small gathering with two colleagues or leaders, it can transform into a "show" dominated by the other two individuals. You might feel excluded and invisible, unable to participate in the discussion. In such situations, would you choose to remain silent and let it pass, or would you approach those two colleagues and honestly express your feelings, seeking to understand the reasons behind it and find ways to avoid similar situations in the future?

While we all aspire to be the latter, we are often hindered by thoughts like "Are they targeting me?" or "I must have done something wrong, so it's my fault." We need to overcome the fear brought about by this victim mentality and excessive self-reflection. Expressing our feelings, whether positive or negative, and whether they align with the facts or not, is both reasonable and should be encouraged. Only by doing so can we make ourselves seen, heard, and respected in the workplace, as well as correct our own biases.

We can opt for a one-on-one conversation with those colleagues or leaders, effectively communicating by stating the facts, sharing our feelings, and expressing our needs. For example, you can say, "Hi [colleague's name], I would like to share an observation with you. The other day, during our conversation, I felt invisible because I barely had the opportunity to participate in the discussion. I don't think it was intentional. Could you share your experience with that? How can I engage more in the future?" This sincere and objective expression, even if it doesn't yield an immediate positive response, will increase their awareness of you. In most cases, others will attentively listen and help you find solutions.

Additionally, Asians in America are often perceived as peaceful and quiet, sometimes even bearing a negative impression of being disconnected from others' concerns. However, we can boldly participate in discussions on mainstream culture and political topics, such as diverse hiring. This demonstrates curiosity, concern, and engagement with the community, showing others that we have a sense of responsibility and thoughtfulness towards the community we belong to. It also showcases a trait of a good leader: the courage to speak up and listen to others.