Blog Archives
Caring For Yourself at Work
The worst loneliness is to not be comfortable with yourself. ~Mark Twain
For the past few weeks we have discussed the gender gap existing in pay and opportunity for women in the workforce, focusing on each of the 4 areas identified by experts as problematic. (For more information check out What’s Holding You Back at Work -click on the link and it will take your right there!).
This week we will tackle the final problem area- feelings of self-doubt at work. Remember, ingrained feelings of inadequacy lead women to doubt their ability to lead others. Women are also less likely than their male counterparts to answer difficult questions or volunteer for unfamiliar tasks in the workplace.
While tackling the root causes of inadequacy may require the attention of a trained professional, there are a few simple things you can do to improve self-esteem at work and banish those feelings of self-doubt- starting as soon as tomorrow!
- Practice gratitude. When you focus too much on what you want, rather on what you already have, you become negative and overwhelmed. This can easily be remedied by focusing on the positives- past successes, exceptional skills, loving relationships, and positive growth. When you recognize all that you have and all that you’ve accomplished, you’ll be motivated to take that next step towards success.
- Compliment other people. The way you think about yourself is often projected on to those around you. So when you are feeling bad, you are often critical and insulting to others. The easiest way to break this cycle is to get in the habit of praising others. Make an effort to compliment your coworkers regularly. The positive reaction you receive once treating others better will build your self-confidence
- Smile. Greet others with a smile and look them directly in the eye. A smile and direct eye contact are often overlooked but speak volumes about your level of confidence and self-respect.
Sources & Resources- click on any of the links below for more information!
Denis Waitley, Six Behaviors that Increase Self-Esteem.
pickthebrain.com, 10 Ways to Instantly Build Self Confidence.
What are some easy methods you use to boost your self-esteem throughout your workday? Please share your secrets by commenting below!
How to be a Savvy Self Promoter
In a recent post we discussed the gender gap existing in pay and opportunity for women in the workforce, highlighting 4 areas identified by experts as problematic. (For more information check out What’s Holding You Back at Work -click on the link and it will take your right there!). Each week we will focus on one of these areas and offer suggestions to improve skills and increase opportunities.
Last week we tackled negotiation skills and today we’ll discuss self promotion. Remember, women tend to underplay their achievements and coworkers and superiors believe what they say about their performance. Self-promotion is key and men tend to be better at it.
In today’s competitive job market it is essential to let your boss know what your working on, what you’ve accomplished, and the obstacles you’ve overcome to be fully recognized and compensated for your efforts. It isn’t bragging, it’s letting a busy manager know the facts.
Many workers, particularly women, believe that excellent work should speak for itself. In a perfect world, yes — but managers are often overworked and it is hard for them to monitor accomplishments and reward them, so self promotion is key. Here we present 4 simple ways to self promote so that you can be rewarded for your efforts!
- Taking advantage of small opportunities. Managers often greet employees with, “How are you?” or “What’s up?” Too often the answer is a simple, “Not much,” and a fabulous opportunity to self promote is missed. Experts recommend taking the opportunity to say that work is great and to speak about the progress of a specific project or recent accomplishment.
- Take control of your performance reviews. These are another excellent opportunity for self-promotion. It is essential to prepare a list of accomplishments, projects completed, challenges overcome and feedback from peers prior to your review. The extra work to prepare will put you in the best position to negotiate for a promotion and raise.
- Help others as you promote yourself. If you meet a deadline, by all means let your boss know about it, but do so offering to help other people meet their deadlines as well. This strategy works because is it demonstrates your value to your boss while highlighting your ability to be a team player.
- Likewise, if you’ve got a particular skill or talent that you want to promote, make it available to others. If you’re good at preparing reports and you know someone who needs to finish one, offer to look it over and spruce it up. Your coworker will be grateful and more likely to mention your skills to others.
- Take initiative. Remember, women are less likely to take risks in the workplace and this impacts their overall success. This barrier is easily overcome by doing the following:
- Taking on more responsibility without being asked
- Being visible
- Being proactive
Sources and Resources-click on any of the links below for more information!
Meredith Levinson, Self Promotion at Work: 8 Tips for Shy People.
Thegrindstone.com, 6 Sneaky Ways to Self Promote at Work.
