At some point or another in our careers, pretty much everyone needs to overcome self-doubt.
What follows is a shortened version of an article by Fred Schmalz focussing on the advice of Ellen Taaffe. If you want to read the full article you can do so here.
Don’t Get Too Comfortable Playing the Observer
Self-doubt can manifest itself in many ways. You may dread an upcoming meeting, convinced you will not pull off your presentation. You may get the feeling your comment is landing with a thud as you give it. Or you may walk out of a meeting convinced that you should have come up with ten different answers than the one you gave.
Many high achievers have a perfectionist streak that can make them loath to act without 100% certainty, especially in new situations when they perceive they are more likely to misstep. So they hold back, waiting rather than jumping in and learning.
Perhaps they do not feel qualified to weigh in on a topic. Or they overthink things as they search their mind for that perfect answer. And to be sure, there are times when over-preparation is a smart move. But many times, high achievers operate as if every interaction is high-stakes when in reality, taking small risks could have much more upside.
Above all, it helps to avoid getting too comfortable in the role of observer. A better approach, is launching in as early as possible.
Acting early does a couple of things. It gets you past the ‘good answers being taken’ issue, and it can be a catalyst for others’ ideas that collectively get the team to a better place. The more you chime in, the more comfortable you will feel the next time.
When you are in transition—settling into a new job or managing others for the first time—you may actually be in a better position to jump into discussions, because you have the greatest opportunity to bring something fresh to the conversation.
We frequently think, ‘I don’t know this yet,’ instead of ‘I’m learning here,’ which frees you to ask your best questions and offer your best ideas. It helps you and the group check assumptions and can lead to an updated way of looking at an opportunity.
Staying silent is a self-protection mechanism but it’s not the best choice.
To read more about:
Take a Cue from Those Around You
and
Ditch Diminishing Language
Click through to the full article.