Do you ever say this to yourself? Interviewing, financial management, negotiating, confrontation, conflict resolution, organising things, reporting — over the years speaking to young professionals, this is one sentence I hear so often.
An aspiring freelancer came on a call with me the other day and the first thing she said was, “thank you so much for talking to me, but I’m so bad at this.” Bad at what, I asked. Talking to strangers, she said. Strange, indeed!
This “I’m so bad at this” is most often a defence mechanism. You’re nervous, you’re worried that the other person will judge you, and keep trying to prepare them for what you think will be a disappointment for them, eh?
How about, today, you stop telling yourself — and others — that you’re so bad at something, and start believing that you’re trying your best? When you’re faced with something you’re uncomfortable with:
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Take a deep breath.
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Promise yourself that you’ll do your best.
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Find calmness — I like drinking water or taking notes for this.
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Focus on getting just a wee bit better than last time.
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Celebrate your small wins.
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Try again from your new and improved position.
Remember: The person you’re talking to is not responsible for showing you kindness, when you’re not doing that for yourself.