"I worked in my previous position mapping medical supply delivery routes for over twenty years. A few years ago, the organization hired a new program manager who was determined to update and streamline our processes by incorporating new mapping software. Although I was accustomed to the software we had been using for many years, I am always open to learning new skills and building on my experience. Other members of my team took to the new program quickly; I completed the training but did not feel comfortable running optimizations independently.

I requested a meeting with the new manager. I explained to him what I gleaned from the training and shared the specific ways in which I was unclear on how to operate the software for sequencing route stops. This allowed me to get to know my new manager a bit better, and he was happy to offer me guidance. I believe it is important to be aware of one's own shortcomings and to be humble about asking for help when it is needed."

"As a volunteer coordinator, it is very important for me to greet people appropriately. Recently, we completed a training session conducted by human resources addressing personal pronouns, what they mean, and how to use them correctly in our interactions with co-workers, clients, volunteers, and donors. Since this was a relatively new concept for me, I took copious notes and brainstormed ways to ask for a person's pronouns and share my own. My first step was simple: I added my own pronouns to my email signature. However, I struggled with changing my dialogue with others at first because language, speech, and interpersonal interactions have become so ingrained as to become automatic. To subvert this instinct, I added a space where new volunteers could choose to write in their preferred pronouns. If they skip this space, I would ask them during our first meeting what they preferred. Making this practice a habit helped me incorporate correct pronoun usage into standard conversations."

Avoid being defensive or shifting the blame to others when describing your reasons why you were unable to catch on to something new quickly. But don't be negative about yourself either. Instead, show that you are self-aware by describing what kind of learner you are and explaining how you used that self-awareness to master a new concept, skill, technology, etc.