EngineerHer

The Irish concept of “notions” can be a tough one to explain to those not familiar with the idea. And while the concept exists in other cultures, I’ve yet to come across anywhere it is developed and integrated so well as in Ireland.

And honestly? That’s not necessarily good!

What are notions?

This article from 2017 explains the idea really well actually. And it is described in the article as “the most shameful thing a person can possess”. Seriously. This is a massive deal.

The idea of notions incorporates a lot, but here as soe elements:

• getting above yourself
• wanting the best
• thinking the best
• full of yourself
• like yourself too much (oh gods, no, even worse, the idea of loving yourself!!!)

Now, I’m aware that in the younger generations this is fading away. A1lthough they may still be subjected to the slagging of their elders, they don’t pay too much attention to it as far as I can see. Which, in many cases is a good thing!

“Notions” stems from the good old Irish traditions of “making do” and “getting by”. Part of our post-colonial trauma in my opinion is a difficulty in recognising that actually, it is possible to be socially mobile in the modern world and – possibly more importantly – it’s possible to generate a better life for ourselves and future generations.

How does this affect women in engineering?

Well, while I will say that other countries don’t have the visceral reaction to the word “notions” that I grew up with, this habit of humility and making do is prevalent among women in engineering as well. It’s almost as if, having received the honour being permitted to become an engineer, we should then just live the rest of our lives in gratitude and not push for anything ever again.

And yes, I know, this conflicts with my earlier article on the issues around excellent women in engineering. But bear with me. That excellence is shown through their work, their commitment and the admiration of their peers.

Where is it not seen? Their career advancement.

Now, not every woman in engineering wants or needs to climb the career ladder to the very top. That’s perfectly understandable. But again and again, I see women in the workplace taking that step back from any ideas of putting themselves forward or engaging in activities that make them stand out.

And that means they’re not getting the recognition they deserve.

Undermining ourselves

This tendency to downplay our achievements and not stand out at all, has the effect of undermining both our own self-confidence and the confidence of others in us.

You know the old thinking that the most confident person gets the job? There’s more than a bit of truth in that. Now, I’m not talking introvert/ extrovert here. That’s a topic for a different post. But I am talking someone who can confidently describe their abilities and achievements. Being able to say “yes, I did that, I did it well and here’s what I learned from the experience” is vital in the modern workplace.

Practice by celebrating your achievements. Even if it’s just for yourself. Seriously now – write down everything you’ve achieved in the last week. I guarantee you have achieved something. Even if it’s a tiny step forwards in a project, you have achieved something.

Getting into the habit of writing down at least 3 achievements every week does a few things:

• It helps build your own confidence
• It keeps track of achievements for performance reviews and/or salary conversations
• It gives you something to read when there’s a really tough week and you feel like you never achieve anything. Facts are one way to combat this!

Limiting ambitions

Honestly, the fear of being called out as “having notions” (or whatever your cultural equivalent is) is much worse than it actually happening. And being called out like that is nothing compared to working for 40 years in a position that bores you and significantly under-uses your talents.

Imagine if you actually reached out and achieved your full potential? What would you do?

It’s a great exercise to complete a vision exercise looking at this. Sit down in a comfy space, preferable with a nice drink (on a day like today in Ireland, you might prefer a hot chocolate to anything else, cos it’s miserable out there!) Grab a pen and paper. Take a few deep breaths to clear your mind and get yourself in the present.

Write at the top of the page: My ideal job is…

And start writing. Just start writing. If the words fail, go back to rewriting “my ideal job is” and write as if this ideal job is already in place and you are working in. See what comes up!

This is a great way to get clear on what it is you really want. And ok, you may need to complete this a few times to really get to the root of things, but it’s still worth doing.

You’ll be amazed what comes up for you and what ambition is unlocked!

Conclusion

I know not everyone has this idea of “having notions” in the way the Irish do. (Although given there are up to 80million around the world claiming Irish descent, maybe the idea is more travelled than we think!)

But, I can guarantee, there is an element of your career or your professional life where you are afraid or apprehensive of moving forward. Or even of putting yourself forward. And it’s worth examining that to make sure it’s not holding you back.

Lack of confidence is very frequently a reason given as to why women don’t proceed up the ladder in engineering. And while there are multiple obvious and not-so-obvious barriers that stop women advancing, lack of confidence or a reticence to be clear on their achievements is definitely a factor. Sometimes at least.

Have a think about how deeply the Irish idea of notions resonates with you. Really be honest with yourself. Because if you’re not honest with yourself, then you won’t be honest with others, either! And being honest, doesn’t always mean being hard!!