The Z 专栏：职场新人如何克服“怕显得不专业”的恐惧

Many young professionals share a common fear: being visibly inexperienced or unprepared. In fact, most people remember when they felt that fear for the first time early in their careers.

I certainly can.

It was July 2022 and I was at the Gaylord Rockies Resort & Convention Center in Aurora, Colorado, to attend and cover my first Meetings Today LIVE! event. I was barely two months out of college and into my job, it was the second industry-related event I’d ever attended and I was meeting half of the Meetings Today team in person for the first time.

I was feeling the pressure, so I did everything I thought I had to do to prepare ahead of time and avoid ending up in the exact position I did end up in. Then I got to Colorado and Jim Krotz, vice president and publisher of Meetings Today—who has probably never heard this story before and would laugh at me about it now—asked if I remembered to bring my business cards.

I didn’t.

Yet, I proceeded to respond with a smile and a nod, and I remember absolutely nothing he said to me after that. My temperature was rising; my heart was racing and all I could think about was how the heck I was going to avoid my boss finding out I messed up.

The second I could escape to a corner somewhere and call my mom, I ran. She answered, told me I was being dramatic (she was right) and, like I knew she would, dropped everything she was doing to help me out.

Without Jim ever finding out (I think), I had my mom mail a stack of my business cards to the Gaylord overnight and I was passing them out during one-on-one appointments that morning.

In the end, I avoided showing my boss any visible inexperience, but at what cost? I chose the hard way, which at the time I thought was the right way, and put myself through hours of unnecessary stress over something so small, when all I had to do was be honest. Jim probably would’ve responded with one thing: “Don’t worry about it, kiddo. Everyone’s got LinkedIn anyway.”

To help my fellow Gen Zers work through their early career-related fears, I turned to the generation that is most familiar with what that’s like for advice.

These two Millennials just completed the early-career phase themselves. Here’s the advice they’d give today’s incoming professionals having been in their shoes not long ago, plus their tips for how experienced pros and planners can help out.

The Unspoken Rule About Asking Questions

The first time Carly Raines, sourcing manager at NHS Global Events, felt out of her depth as an early-career professional was when she attended her first industry conference as an exhibitor.

“Many of the people I was exhibiting alongside were very tenured and had attended the show for years, so they already knew the process and what to expect,” she recalled. “There wasn't much pre-show communication, and because I didn't have an established relationship with the person coordinating the exhibitors, I was hesitant to ask questions. I didn't want to appear like I didn't know what I was doing.

“I ultimately went into the show much less prepared than I should have been, and it was intimidating simply because I didn't know what I didn't know,” she continued. “Looking back, it was a good lesson in the importance of asking questions early, even when you feel like you're the only person who doesn't have all the answers.”

That’s one unspoken professional rule she learned early in her career.

“Asking thoughtful and intentional questions doesn't make you look underqualified; it often earns you more respect,” she said. “Early on, I sometimes hesitated to ask questions because I didn't want people to think I should already know the answer. I learned that making an assumption and getting something wrong is usually much more damaging than taking a few minutes to ask someone who has more experience.”

It’s advice I wish I would’ve allowed myself to take sooner, and something Carley Crose, senior program manager at Bishop-McCann, took a little while to learn, too.

“When did you first realize you were allowed to approach a senior leader, ask a question or take up space in the room?” I asked.

“When I was forced to!” Crose responded. “I got a huge promotion and was suddenly ‘in the room.’ At first, I was timid and self-conscious (and hindsight, this is one role I wish I could do over knowing what I know now). I got bulldozed by a direct report, who was my senior in age, and I carried an underdog mentality into the role.”

By allowing herself to ask questions, Crose started making strides and having success. She gained confidence and built relationships with the very people she was afraid of approaching before, but it required stepping out of her comfort zone and facing some of the fears many young professionals feel.

Owning Your Mistakes

One thing that is arguably even scarier than admitting you don’t know something is admitting you messed something up.

My business-card blip taught me the importance of asking questions. It also taught me the importance of being forgiving of myself when I make mistakes, and honest with others when they happen, no matter how big or small.

Early-career professionals often experience some awkward introductions. They may miss a social cue or two, or ask a question they wish they would’ve phrased differently. Crose has one piece of advice for when things like this happen.

“Own the miss, apologize or correct it, then move past it,” she said. “It will inevitably happen, but replaying it over and over or letting it cloud your mind doesn’t do any good. Own it and move on.”

Raines takes it one step further, not only owning her misses, but acknowledging them in a way that turns an otherwise awkward experience into one everyone can easily move on from.

“I personally use humor to recover when the situation calls for it,” she said. “If I can make myself the ‘fall guy’ in a lighthearted joke, it usually reduces some of the awkwardness in the moment and lets everyone move on. If humor isn't your vibe, a simple acknowledgement or correction is enough. No need to over-explain or dwell on it. These types of situations happen to everyone.”

We’ve All Been There

That’s exactly what I try my best to remember in moments of fear, uncertainty and doubt in my career: We all go through it.

Afraid of those who may judge you?

“They are all just people like us,” Crose said. “Everyone has their own quirks, insecurities and desires to be liked and respected. If we can approach people as people, we will realize we are all pretty similar, and that’s when we can really enjoy getting to know each other and working together.”

That authentic approach to figuring things out is also likely what new career connections will appreciate about you most.

“People will remember you for being genuine and how you make them feel,” Raines said, “not whether you hit every point you prepared for.”

Things start to feel a lot less scary when you allow yourself to accept that, and you will likely feel a lot less pressure to be perfect as a result.

Remember This

What you don’t know matters a lot less than what you’re willing to do to learn what you don’t know.

“There’s a difference between asking questions thoughtfully and simply relying on someone else to give you the answer,” Raines said. “If someone takes the time to teach you something, take notes, remember it and put their guidance into practice. It shows you respect their time and are genuinely trying to grow.

“It's something I encourage my team with today: You should never be afraid to ask questions, especially when you're new,” she continued. “Everyone who is considered an expert today was once the person asking the questions.”

Stop the Spook!

While many early-career professionals are feeling the pressure to prove themselves in their careers while facing the fear of falling short, an equal number of senior leaders may not remember how nerve-wracking the process can be or realize how much has changed since they went through it.

“[We forget] how intimidating it can be,” Crose said. “But also, how much the world and industry has changed since we were new.”

Raines echoes Crose’s thoughts and also thinks another thing senior leaders may not always remember is to give those who are learning some grace.

“I think many experienced professionals forget just how much there is to learn and absorb when you're new,” Raines said. “Things that feel like second nature to someone experienced—something as simple as sending a calendar invite—could be completely new to someone else. Not everything is learned at the same pace, and patience is one of the best gifts you can give a new professional.”

Here are three more things experienced professionals can do to help make things feel a little less daunting for early-career pros still learning the ropes.

1. Build Bridges

If you know someone or have a coworker who is early in their career, consider who in your network could be beneficial for them to get to know, then be the one to help them make that connection.

“One thing that made me feel included early in my career was when a more senior colleague took me under their wing and introduced me to their network or showed me the ropes in a new scenario,” Raines said. “They brought me into conversations and connected me with people I wouldn't have approached on my own. It's something I've carried forward in my own career. When I'm at an event with someone newer to the industry, I try to help open the door with a few introductions.”

2. Be a Friend

You may not know any early-career professionals in the industry, but when you see someone younger looking lost or lonely at a meeting or event, they’re more than likely in need of a friend. Approaching them and initiating a conversation could make all the difference in their experience and how comfortable they feel being in the room.

“Be intentional about meeting new people,” Crose said. “Look for those folks who look uneasy or uncomfortable. [If you’re a planner,] create low-key icebreaker-style intros. Make the event approachable.”

Then, when you eventually see them again, don’t be a stranger.

“Remember their name/face and invite them into the conversation,” Crose said.

3. Break the Ice

Before any big event, planners can intentionally design pre-event meetups or host informal know-before-you-go sessions and webinars to help attendees meet others who are in similar stages of their career and feel more prepared going into the event.

“I think planners could build in a short, informal session for first-time attendees,” Raines said. “It would give them the opportunity to meet other newcomers, make a few connections and find relatable peers to navigate the event with.”

Face your fears!
Taylor

Have a question about Gen Z or a topic you’d like to learn more about? Share your thoughts with Taylor at [email protected].

Mission Statement: "The Z: Planning for the Industry’s Next Generation" is an award-winning Meetings Today column discussing the meetings and events industry’s newest and youngest members—the incoming Generation Z. Written by Meetings Today’s Taylor Smith, a member of Gen Z herself, The Z explores how to welcome, work with, understand and plan for the industry’s next wave of professionals while serving as a guide for members of Gen Z themselves, planners and attendees alike.