You’re young, gifted, female and getting ignored at work. Here are some ways to play nice in the sandbox with a dismissive co-worker and still standout as a corporate powerhouse.
Control what you can control
Your instinct may be to call this person out of their B-S. Before you go there, you’re better off trying to control how you respond to dismissive behavior. If your ideas are getting dismissed in team meetings, reach out to a few respected people BEFORE the meeting to get their thoughts on your ideas. The goal is to get their support, but also consider their watch-outs. Then, in the meeting socialize the idea to the broader group and mention that you’ve discussed it with a few others in the room. Getting buy-in before hand, helps build relationships. Everyone likes being asked their opinion on something
BONUS TIP
Sometimes we don’t have the luxury of brainstorming ahead of time. In the moment, if a nay-sayer starts dismissing your ideas, ask them to participate in brainstorming with you. That way you give them a compelling reason to listen and engage with you. The two of you can build amazing things together.
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The corporate world needs that brilliance that only you bring. So go out into the world, act with conviction, be courageous and live joyfully every single day.
XOXO,
Adwoa
Adwoa Dadzie is a Director of Human Resources and Corporate Career Strategist. The views expressed in this post are Adwoa’s and do not reflect the views of her employer. Follow her on Twitter @adwoadadzie3, Instagram @adwoadadzie, Periscope @adwoadadzie3, or visit her at adwoadadzie.com.
