LEARN
Something Worth SharingPlatforms Only Grant Permission Due to preparing for a couple of speaking commitments, I’ve been through a lot of my past press coverage and interviews recently. Given that some of the magazines are 20+ years old, I was delighted that I still believe in the same things I was saying back then - especially about the importance of people, culture and purpose. I spotted that there was a common thread - beyond people - that ran through the articles. I was often invited to comment and participate on the likes of panels, talks, debates and judging awards. The headlines would often be along the lines of: ‘breaking barriers’, ‘doing it her own way’ and ‘…in a man’s world’. When first given the opportunity to contribute to press and features, I was flattered - but I soon realised that the initial approach wasn’t because of my skill set or what I had to offer. It was because I was a young female in the manufacturing and metal industry - an industry that was viewed as a male-industry. At university, I was literally the ONLY female on my ‘Industrial Product Design and Marketing’ course. Years later I joined Vistage - a peer-to-peer group of CEOs and was again the ONLY female in our group. 'I've been reflecting on this since having recently been the only female on a stage of professionals once again. But, this learn isn’t focusing on all that’s still wrong with that, I’m sharing how I chose to look at this issue 20 years ago and still choose to see it now. Being the ONLY female has provided me with a platform - an invitation to be seen and heard. Once you have a platform, you have to use the opportunity well and be clear on your positioning, purpose and impact. I’m grateful that the initial platform allowed me to show I was credible and deserved it. Think of it this way: “a platform grants permission to be seen / heard”. I don’t agree with why I was initially given a platform, but as I was afforded a platform it was in my care and responsibility to use it well. This was all before social media platforms that anyone and everyone can use. However you come to have a platform - of any type - remember you have simply been given permission to be seen and heard. The important part is how you use it and what you do with it - it’s up to each of us to use platforms wisely and with meaning. Think about what platforms you have - when you have permission to be seen and heard even just in your social circle - and then how you can make positive use of this.
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