Julie Lenzer Kirk is a successful, self-made serial technology entrepreneur who has spent the past year doing a new job in the US federal government – an industry in which she has little experience.
As director of the office of innovation and entrepreneurship in the US department of commerce, the first-time federal employee is on a mission to drive economic growth in the US economy through federally sponsored grants and programmes.
“In my first six months, I asked for my old job back twice,” she confesses. “My old boss said: ‘If it was easy, anyone could do it. You’re there for a reason.’”
Lenzer Kirk didn’t quit. Instead, she adopted three key mindsets to increase her ability to adapt without losing her authenticity.
Feedback is rarely about you
“Those who are familiar with this environment cite that because I am a political appointee, I am here and then I am gone. There are people who are career employees that see people like me come and go all of the time,” she says. There is no shortage of insights from seasoned government employees into what Lenzer Kirk should or should not be doing. This can be deflating, but it doesn’t have to be.
When someone tells you that you don’t have what it takes, that you are in over your head, or that you do not belong, there is usually a reason – and it has little to do with you. Listen carefully to responses you get from people with whom you want to collaborate. Work to understand the motivation behind the response, or lack of one. Once you can objectively observe how others are respondingto you, you will be able to define a strategy to work around barriers.
Don’t be afraid to ask
On starting this new role, Lenzer Kirk had “no resources, no budget, no team”. With no industry experience and two big projects to kick off within a month of starting, she was struggling to understand the ins and outs of legislation.
She quickly went into start-up mode. “I made friends … I would ask questions like ‘Can you explain to me, or what does this mean or how does that work?’”
It’s great to know a lot of people, but it’s even more important to build strong, quality relationships that hold mutual value. Asking for advice or help to learn something new is one of the easiest ways to engage people and turn even the toughest critic into an ally.
Act on the input you receive and keep people informed on your progress. Do not hesitate to extend a hand to help with someone else’s project. Relationships are a two-way street built on authenticity, not on transactions.
Don’t let fear stop you stepping out of your comfort zone
“I try to let fear be a good sign,” says Lenzer Kirk. “When you look at something and you know you want to do it but it scares you to death, that’s usually a sign of a huge opportunity for growth.”
Women tend to want to have all the answers and qualifications for any given role before taking a new job. As competent as she was as an entrepreneur, Lenzer Kirk is aware of what she doesn’t know as a federal appointee.
Fear is normal, even for a seasoned executive. “If you back down just because you are afraid, you will never forgive yourself,” say Lenzer Kirk. What sets the successful apart from the less successful is doing something even when it terrifies you.
If you navigated your way into a stretch role, you have already demonstrated that you have the chops to take your seat at the table. Pull up a chair. You earned it.
