Photo courtesy of @bekkhull
In March this year I took part in the most amazing event hosted by WomanKind North in Preston where the organisers Morgana and Helen brought together various experts to inspire and encourage women to think about how to take up space and create more space for other women.
As well as being part of a panel talk about business and being an entrepreneur, hosting 2 workshops on Overcoming Imposter Syndrome, I was asked to write a short piece for the event booklet which would be in each woman’s event bag which was filled full of goodies.
As someone who has experienced Imposter Syndrome in my career I know how it can hold us back from taking up space and I think it is so important that we not only step into that space but we find any way we can to lift other women and help them take up the space that they belong to be in.
The other day I saw one of the woman who attended the event had created a collage of things that inspired her from the event and I noticed that she had featured some of the words from the piece I wrote, so I thought why don’t I share this with the wider community to inspire others to take up more space and create more space for others. So here you go, I hope you like it.
What does take up space, make more space mean to me?
As women we’re still finding our way in a world that has been designed for men. Research says it will take another 70 years until we have parity in the workplace, so it’s our responsibility to do our part to support this for future generations. We talk about the glass ceiling in the workplace but there is another glass ceiling that we need to smash through and that’s the one we create for ourselves.
Taking up space is allowing yourself to be seen, whether that be in your family, your community, in business or the workplace. It means we have to believe in ourselves, push through fears and put ourselves forward for things we don’t feel capable of or ready to do. It’s using our voice for good. It doesn’t matter how we use it. Speak up in a meeting, sharing our views, standing up for what we believe.
Making space is recognising there’s enough room for us all and making sure we’re supporting other women and not pulling them down.
So here’s some tips how to take & make more space:-
Support - surround yourself with people who support, inspire, empower and lift you up
Passion – find something you’re passionate to do or support and keep in mind the impact you can have on driving change
Achievements - Recognise your achievements – it’s important to notice the progress you make. Notice the small steps you take as they lead to the big things
Courage – Put yourself forward for an opportunity even when you don’t think you’re ready. When asked to do something, say yes and then figure out the how later
Encourage – make it your mission to encourage, support and be other women’s biggest cheer leader
Lets’ rise together!
Photo courtesy of @samjayne_design