Before We Talk About Stepping Up

Before we talk about teams, responsibility, or stepping up, I want to slow things down for a moment.

When I first joined teams, especially early on in AIESEC, I really wanted to help.
I wanted to be useful and prove myself.
At the same time, I was afraid of making mistakes or looking inexperienced.
No one explained how to step in, so sometimes I stayed quiet. Other times, I tried too hard.

It took me a while to realize that this wasn’t about confidence or talent.
It was about not understanding how teams actually work and what my place in them could be.

Let’s Start This Course Differently

Before learning anything new, I want you to think about where you are starting from.
So take a moment to reflect on your own experience with teams.
It can be a work team, but it doesn’t have to be. It can be any group where you had to work with others.

• • When you are in a team, what do you usually do first?
    Do you observe quietly? Do you wait for direction? Do you jump in quickly?

  • When do you feel most unsure?
    Is it when speaking up? Asking questions? Making decisions? Taking responsibility for something?

  • What usually holds you back?
    Is it fear of making mistakes? Fear of being judged? Not wanting to get in the way?

Pay attention to the moments you thought about while reflecting.
The situations where you hesitated, stayed quiet, or were unsure how to step in.
These moments are not random. They usually follow patterns.
Those patterns are what we will work with in this course.

As you continue, keep one of those situations in mind. Not to judge it or fix it yet, but to use it as a reference point.