An interesting thing happened out of this pandemic; as the world of work was turned upside down, some thrived from working remotely while others really struggled. The first crowd includes the introverts who generally prefer to keep to themselves and likely to achieve more in isolation. On the other hand, are extroverts, who are generally very social and outgoing and are energized by active and social environments.
Working away from the office might have brought the initial excitement for the introverts; but over time, the benefits of social engagement with peers became glaringly obvious. There is that encouragement that comes from others seeing and appreciating your work, the confidence that comes from the ability to compete and have your ideas come on top and also just the joy of camaraderie.
In this new distanced way of working many have experienced a huge knock on their self-confidence and self-esteem. As social beings, we not only like the company of others but actually crave and need it for our mental wellbeing. It’s by no accident that one of the forms of torture is solitary confinement.
If you are finding it hard to find the motivation to come up with new ideas, or put your ideas forward, you could be suffering from a low self-esteem and self-confidence as a result of the lack of ongoing feedback.
How do you build back your confidence and self-esteem when no one else is there to help you believe in yourself?
- Embrace Who You Are. Sounds simple right? Ralph Waldo Emmerson said, “To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment.” We live in a world of comparisons; we constantly compare our achievements to others and during this period it is easy to over-exaggerate where others are compared to where you are. You have to remind yourself of what makes you stand out, the experiences that shaped you and believe in your capabilities. As you embrace who you are, you confidently tackle the tasks ahead of you daily and let your skills shine through. Remind yourself of who you are, what makes you stand out, and embrace it.
- Optimize What You Have. Identifying and maximizing your talents and skills is one way to build your confidence. As the world changes around us we have heard a lot about disruption, pivoting and transitioning. Many of us have started to believe that in order to succeed we need to ditch what we had going for us in the pursuit of the new and different. This frantic desire to pivot because of this disruption can have a negative effect, leaving us disoriented and flailing in the dark. Yes, you must try and find new ways of doing things, but you don’t have to change who you are. Take time to look at the skills and talents you bring to the table and focus on optimizing the value you bring.
- Clarify Your Why: Purpose. Why is it that some people enjoy their work, create positive change and impact the world around them, while others work hard but dread every day of their lives? Simon Sinek believes that the biggest secret that great people tap into, lies in understanding why they do what they do. When you clarify your ‘why’, you find your purpose and that fuels your work. I challenge you to take some time to consider your WHY statement. It doesn’t have to be fancy, and it doesn’t have to be profound, but it does have to inspire you.
Consider the change you want your life and work to make and the difference you want to make. Here is mine: “My purpose is to inspire others to activate their potential.” This helps me to remember why I need to show up and deliver every time, I always remind myself that I am making a difference to someone. So, what about you?
Maybe you are also struggling to stay motivated, to find confidence in yourself and the work you produce because of this pandemic and the new way of working. Take some time with a journal or piece of paper and clarify the above for yourself and build back your confidence and self-esteem. You can come out of the period with greater work achievements because you found a way to restore the confidence in yourself. So, Do It!