Post-COVID – Is Job Insecurity the New Normal? – Part Two
In Part One, we gave you a few tips on how not to let insecurity in the workplace get the better of you. Even though many of us have had our careers shaken by the impact of COVID, there are, for some, many other reasons that make them feel insecure. But unlike COVID, there are some things you can proactively do to reduce job insecurity and improve and restore your confidence in the workplace.
Firstly, do not take disparagement too hard or too personally. Here is a technique to try when you face criticism that zaps your confidence. If you hear something negative that simply is not true, before dwelling on it and letting it destroy what you believe about yourself, just reject it out of hand. Try thinking of something more positive and remind yourself about the skills you do have. This works because it is the brain cycles you waste on something negative that tends to lower confidence. However, if you are completely honest and the criticism is, in fact, valid, also, do not let pride get in the way of a valuable learning experience. Suck it up, take on the chin, and most importantly, change your approach and make sure that mistake never happens again.
Nurture friendships at work who will champion you. The best way to build confidence is to find people who know how to encourage you and build you up. The best example of this is probably your partner, who, we are willing to bet, always seems to have a little compliment for how you are dressed for the day or a project you have completed after your day is over. If you tend to hang out with people who criticise you too much, that is going to kill your confidence. It might be time to find new friends. And furthermore, you can do the same for them; there is nothing wrong with a Pay-it-Forward dynamic in the workplace to boost overall confidence levels!
Is your lack of confidence and feeling of general misery down to over-familiarity with your peers and a sense that they do not have your interests at heart? You will be surprised to note the difference in your attitude when you start perceiving a different picture at your work. People who are low on confidence tend to have a great obsession with how other people impact them. To turn the tables, if you start witnessing what impact you have on others, you can increase your effectiveness, and your confidence will boost up as you will start noticing why you are important at your job.
We have saved the simplest – and most effective – to the last. Are you ready? Smile. People with confidence tend to smile more, but it is a learned skill. Suppose you walk around the office and greet others, smile first and ask about their day. The change in attitude about what is going on around the office builds your own confidence because you realise you need to have a better outlook – and that is highly contagious. Confidence is reflected. Do not believe us? Try it out next time you go to Coles. For goodness’ sake, do not grin like a loon, or you could have the opposite effect, but just have a friendly smile on your face, and you will be amazed how many people smile back.
At the end of the day, as it is said, too much of everything is not good. Building confidence is necessary, but in the process of it, do not become overconfident. That is something that can ruin your entire practice of getting into the confident zone. Be confident, but not overconfident.
It is time for you to stand apart and get known at the workplace. If you are one of those who are really scared to come up and face the music, just put into place even two or three of these simple tips, and you are set to completely change your perspective. Being confident not only improves your work life but adds to your personality and gives a positive edge to your lifestyle. So, get up fresh and start new. Follow these simple tricks and get noticed at work.
