Owning It: The Audit That Showed Me My Growth

One of those quiet milestone days where you realise how far you’ve really come

I’ve been supporting ISO audits for over four years now. In the beginning, it was always me alongside our Founding Director and MD at the time; learning, watching, helping, and if I’m honest, quietly panicking.

Every year, I’ve felt a little unsure. ISO standards aren’t light reading, and for some time, I didn’t feel like I fully “got” them. I knew just enough to be useful (having a great understanding of our operations)… but not enough to feel confident in that room.

This year? …Something changed.

For the first time, I prepared almost the entire audit on my own and I led it solo (well, our CEO did pop in to say hi at the start and was there as support if I needed him - thanks, Joe)!

I made a conscious decision not to lean too heavily on others. Not because I didn’t appreciate the support (huge shoutout to the team who still helped with documents), but because I wanted to prove something to myself.

And guess what? It went surprisingly well.

There was a moment after the audit where a colleague said to me “You’re always so calm – you’re never stressed.” That meant more to me than they probably realised.

Because being calm and confident is something I’ve really had to work on. I used to be too anxious to answer my nan’s phone as a teenager (true!).. and now here I am leading audits and holding my own.

I definitely do feel the stress sometimes… I just don’t let it stop me & I try not to let it impact people around me.

When my boss asked me yesterday what my work superpowers are, I couldn’t quite answer in the moment. But reflecting on the day, I think I’ve figured it out:

1. Even if I’m stressed or not feeling so confident, I keep going and stay calm.

2. I get s**t done - If something needs doing I will always give my all to get it done.

It took me a while to realise those were strengths – they just felt like survival tactics at times and day to day expectations. But actually, these are things I bring to the table that make a difference.

The truth is, you don’t always know what your strengths are until you’re in a moment where you need to rely on them. And you don’t always see your growth until you look back and realise you’re doing something you once found totally intimidating… and handling it now, almost like a pro!

So here’s the takeaway:

- Build your confidence over time.
- Challenge yourself when it matters.
- Recognise the quiet strengths you’ve developed along the way.

You might be more powerful than you realise.

What are your superpowers?