Have you ever doubted your skills or questioned your suitability for your role? Chances are you have because nearly all of us have at some stage in our career.
Perhaps you fit into one of the below categories;
- You were once full of confidence, yet a situation or new manager is causing you to rethink your fit for the role
- Your role has changed so dramatically as the business has grown and developed that you are feeling out of your depth and the role is now requiring skills that you don’t have
- You may have started in a new role and you feel less experienced and qualified than those around you and feel threatened by your colleagues
- You may have been applying for multiple roles that you feel are a good skill match, yet all of the rejections are leaving you doubting yourself
- Or perhaps, you are simply being too hard on yourself!
The fear of failure sometimes impacts your attitude toward giving things a go. Low confidence and self-esteem long term in the workplace can lead to anxiety, depression, and stress. It can lead you to question and over analyse yourself, and your decisions, and can overflow and have an impact on your life outside work.
So, how do you regain your confidence I hear you asking. Try giving the below a try:
- Admit that there is no such thing as perfection
Everyone makes mistakes, yes everyone! Aiming for perfection will always lead to disappointment and is not practical for you to sustain. Try instead, aiming to do your very best. Trying your hardest and giving 100% is all that a manager should expect.
- Know your accomplishments and what you’ve learned
Think back to all of the jobs that you’ve had and write down the skills you’ve learned, what you have accomplished and the knowledge you’ve gained. Keep adding to this list as you think of more skills. Many people tend to focus on roles that didn’t work out, or career mistakes, rather than all of their amazing career achievements. Remember to list the small wins as well.
- Losing career confidence is normal
Know that losing confidence from time to time is normal and happens to everyone. You are not alone! If you are happy to discuss your situation, reach out to your family and friends for support and talk through your feelings. I’m sure you will soon find someone who relates to your situation! Ask them for advice and seek out a mentor to help you regain your confidence.
- Identify why you feel this way
This is important so that you can make the decision to change your thoughts and regain your confidence in your current role, or it may help you make the decision that it is time to move on. If you do move on, it is important to know the cause of why you feel so discontent at work so that you are not going to walk into another role where you don’t feel confident again! If the reason is that you are no longer engaged in the work that you are doing and there is no scope to change your role within your current organisation, then it may be time to look for new opportunities. In either case, once you identify the root cause of your feelings, you can create a plan, get back on track and regain your confidence.
We’ve all had those days when we feel overwhelmed and question our suitability for the role, but identifying what it is that’s causing you to feel unsettled, and knowing when it is time to move on is vital for your job satisfaction and mental health.
Disclaimer: The material contained in this publication is of a general nature only. It is not, nor is intended to be, legal advice. If you wish to act based on the content of this publication, we recommend that you seek professional advice.