The concept of borrowed belief is not new, and is certainly not mine. In fact, a quick Google search brings up other articles and entire websites dedicated to borrowed belief. I first heard the term earlier this year at a physical security design conference in Dublin, Ireland. We are all familiar with presentations at conferences dedicated to softer topics—leadership, communication, and the alike. It was a particularly busy week for me, and I was looking forward to catching up on some e-mails during a presentation titled, “The Power of Borrowed Belief” by a retail coaching consultant named Louise Lally. I’m glad I didn’t.
The concept of borrowed belief is not complex—it’s quite simple. At its core, borrowed belief is about believing in someone else before they can believe in themselves. It’s often used when someone is lacking self-confidence and needs to draw strength from the positive opinions of others to move forward in a situation. It’s about actively incorporating the trust and faith others place in you to propel your own actions and decisions.
Borrowed belief lays the foundation for why mentorship is so impactful to young engineers or why advocacy is a critical aspect of career development. In ways, mentorship and advocacy are forms of borrowed belief, however the concept of borrowed belief is much simpler. Winston Churchill once said that “All great things are simple.” This is why the concept of borrowed belief continues to stick with me, as the simplicity and efficacy of believing in others is borrowed belief’s greatest superpower. Let me explain.
Just over six years ago I decided to leave the structural engineering profession. At the time, I was a licensed Professional Engineer with nine years of experience. I was very active in the Structural Engineers Association of Metropolitan Washington (SEA-MW), helping start our local Young Member Group in 2013 and our local career fair titled The Next Step Event in 2014, as well as planning our local awards gala. I joined the National Council of Structural Engineers Association’s (NCSEA) Young Member Group Support Committee (YMSC) in 2016 and chaired the committee in 2018. However, my engagement with SEA-MW and NCSEA came to an abrupt halt in 2019 when I made the difficult decision to pursue a career in physical security.
I still saw value in SEA-MW and NCSEA, it’s just that I thought my contributions to these organizations wouldn’t be valued once I left the profession. I had a perception of the type of person who provided value, and I no longer fit the mold.
Six months later I received a phone call informing me that I was nominated for a position on the NCSEA Board of Directors. While I didn’t see it at the time, others saw value in having a 33-year-old, with nine years of structural engineering experience, who recently transitioned out of the profession, join a board whose mission is to advance the practice of structural engineering. To be honest, it still doesn’t seem plausible after reading the above sentence today. Some would call this imposter syndrome, and they are probably right. However, the power of borrowed belief is that it doesn’t matter what the diagnosis is called. Lending support and believing in others is the simple answer. Imposter syndrome, glass ceilings, inclusion & belonging—the answer starts with believing in others.
This is where I challenge each of you. Take a moment and consider the following—who are you lending belief to right now? Maybe it’s a child who doesn’t think they are good enough to make a sports team, a colleague who is struggling to keep up with rapid advancements in technology, or a parent who is resisting elderly care. No matter your age, borrowed belief is effective in both personal and professional settings to create supportive and inclusive environments. While some may be capable of offering more, we should always be able to articulate one person we are supporting and empowering—our communities will be better for it.
For the first time in NCSEA’s history, both the President and Vice President of NCSEA are Professional Engineers currently supporting other professions and industries. While I’m not proposing to stage a mutiny, I do believe that diversity in thought strengthens communities. NCSEA is entering its 32nd year and has never supported a stronger community of structural engineering professionals. Our diverse programming this year includes awarding student scholarships for the NCSEA Summit in New York, issuing grants to our Artificial Intelligence (AI) Team to develop an AI roadmap for the structural engineering profession, and recently hosting our first annual Executive Leadership Retreat in Napa, California. I’m grateful for the immense belief others allowed me to borrow six years ago to continue my journey with NCSEA, and encourage all of us to empower others to join their local structural engineering association or to directly join one of NCSEA’s many committees. It’s only when we find a place for everyone that this profession will reach its maximum potential. ■
About the Author
Brian Petruzzi, PE, is the current Vice President of NCSEA. He is passionate about building community and creating forums where diversity of thought is able to thrive.