Don't loose your voice at work. Value your contribution.

Once upon a time there was a beautiful car.
A yellow Volkswagen Beetle.

Beetle would drive around town.
Like a bright pop of sunshine,
people smiled when they saw her.

One of Beetle’s many unique features was her engine.
Most cars have their engine at the front.
Her’s was at the back.

It was air cooled, not liquid cooled.
So it gave a wonderful thrumming sound.
With a slight whistle when she revved.

But, one day, a new car moved into town.
A black Maserati.

Maserati was shiny, slick and super fast.
Maserati’s engine purred.

Beetle couldn’t help compare herself.
"I’m not as fast, slick or cool. Compared to Maserati I sound stupid”.
‍The more she compared, her doubt and worry grew.

She hid in her garage and confidence dropped.
The sound of her engine went quiet.

Maserati knew where Beetle lived.
One day she pulled up outside the garage and shouted,

"Hey Beetle!
Fancy a spin?"‍

Silence.
Beetle’s engine wouldn’t start.

She’d lost her voice.
That wonderful thrumming engine that people loved had gone.

Beetle felt stuck.
Her joy, personality and beautiful sunshine yellow hidden under thick brown dust.

She longed to rev her engine.
As she dreamed, Beetle realised…
She may not sound like Maserati, but her engine needed to be heard too.
There’s room for her on the road.

She had some work to repair her confidence.
The doubt and worry was all in her mind.
Wipe away the dust of shame.
And share her voice.

Both cars are beautiful.
Both share the same road.
Both are unique and wonderful in their own way.

One isn’t better than the other.

It’s the same at work.‍

Don’t loose your voice by devaluing your professional contribution.

It’s natural to have doubts.
Perhaps a fear of being judged.
It could be your accent, education, knowledge, culture, beliefs, sexuality…

But it’s important to regularly remind yourself of your unique value.
The knowledge, skills and ideas you have to contribute.

When you share and express these, your voice has the power to inspire and lead.

So share it.
Because deep down you know you’re great at your work.
You don’t need others to remind you.