Not Exactly A Self-Esteem Issue...
So, the main software package I use at work was developed in-house. It's been showing cracks for years now and doesn't so much need to be repaired as replaced. I actually managed to get in on a brainstorming session about what we need a few months back and then heard not a whole lot about it. I got in to that, I think, by commenting that I wanted to be more involved in the process, as the longest standing user of the package.
At my mid-year review, I re-iterated that I wanted to be more involved in the decisions about the software development, as I'm one of the most directly affected. Well, the company has decided that we should look at vendors rather than a new in-house solution (which I agree with). My boss was invited to the meetings about this, and decided to bring me along to a planning session. Originally he'd just asked me for some noted to bring with him, but because I said something, he brought me along. The only comment about my presence at the meeting was an action item that I should be added to the distribution list for future meetings. And, lo, I was invited to the vendor demos that followed.
Those demos were the last couple of days. And... everyone acted like I belonged there. When I spoke up with questions nobody raised an eyebrow, and sometimes people asked me my opinion. Like... like I'm a colleague and not an interloper. When I ran into other folks on the team in the hall, they stopped to ask what I thought.
It's just weird to me. I'm used to either presenting something specific or being expected to sit quietly and listen. It's not that I don't think I have valuable experience and input -- I'm just not used to being treated like I have valuable experience and input. Just, weird. It's probably a good thing; I'm just still trying to decide if it means something.