Direct the Room

Direct the Room

I have had the good fortune of choosing to start my own business, after accepting the universe's invitation to push me here. But before I fully committed to this, I had the misfortune of experiencing job hunting. If you are out there looking right now, you have my empathy. It isn't easy, it isn't fun, and it isn't for the faint of heart. It is dating professionally, and just as much as dating personally is a burden on the heart, dating professionally is a burden on the confident ego. I wanted to share one particular interview I had, of all the experiences I have had thus far, there is one .

I was talking to a recruiter, he had asked me to give him the elevator pitch of my experience. When I was finished, he said "Do you consider yourself direct?"

Immediately I answered, "Yes". And then he had a follow up question, "and how is that received?"

"It depends on the room I am in and the company I keep." He nodded, and wrote something down. I don't know what he wrote down, I don't know that I care and I don't know that I have been asked that question before. But I have two questions for you,

Have you been asked this question? If you have, are you male or female?

I do not stand on my female pedestal and preach, however, I will say that I earned my seat in the room so if you don't like what I have to say, then you should maybe question why that is. Is it because it came out of a female mouth or is it because I challenged the way you considered something in the first place? Do you think it is an emotional state or a professional trait?

Yes, I am direct, I'm not rude, but I will be honest. I will stand my ground. I will tell you how I see it. I will pose the question you wish wouldn't be posed. I will offer my opinion if the table is open to receive feedback, and it will never be my intention to be disrespectful.

So how are you direct? Well...did you earn your seat at the table? Then for the grace of the universe, speak up a little more for those in the back. Those who sit behind the seats at the table, the ones afraid to use that direct voice of reason, optimism, challenges and ideas.

Instead of thinking being direct in a room is a challenge, think of directing the room with your input.