Category Archives: Self Aware at Work

Is fear of rejection holding you back? At times you know there’s a certain task or project that you’d be great at, but you don’t step up to the plate because you fear rejection. What will others think of me if I fail? you wonder. You hold back instead of facing and overcoming your fear of rejection.

Reluctance to take on responsibility that is outside your comfort zone due to fear of rejection is a common issue experienced by many of my clients. The security of what you’ve been doing day in and day out can be reassuring, but to find purpose and realize your true potential, you have to step out of your comfort zone and take a risk.

The rewards of taking a risk.

The fear of failure and rejection when taking on a new task can be daunting, but with the right knowledge, you can overcome … Continue reading Fear of Rejection (Don’t Let It Hold You Back) →

Without the right tools and knowledge, finding a job that you truly want or getting a promotion at your present company can be challenging.

When I hear people complain about their current job I’ve only got one answer for them: Be responsible.

Choosing to be a victim of your circumstances makes you lose control over situations that come your way. Being responsible about your current situation gives you the power to take action to change it.

Upgrade your skill set.

One of the best ways to be responsible is getting the right education and learning the appropriate skills to face challenges. Once you’re more informed, you’ll have greater confidence because you know tried-and-tested methods that have worked for others and are probably going to work for you. Nobody but you is responsible for your success.

Find the knowledge you need to excel.

How can you get the right knowledge to … Continue reading It’s Not Too Late to Take Personal Responsibility for Your Career →

Client Suzanna Asks: Sometimes I think I am my own worst critic. I constantly catch myself thinking, “That wasn’t good enough” or “You really screwed up this time.” How can I turn this around?

Coach Joel Answers: Self-evaluation can be a positive experience. It helps us learn, correct our mistakes and improve our performance, as well as the perceptions others have of us.

According to psychologist Terry Paulson, it’s estimated that a typical person makes 300 to 400 self-evaluations every day.

That’s a lot of opportunities for self-improvement.

But here’s the rub.

Dr. Paulson says that, for most people, 80% of these self-evaluations are negative!

It’s almost impossible to maintain a positive attitude at work when your inner voice is constantly hammering you for “messing up.” After awhile, self-doubt erodes your confidence and you’ll be tempted to avoid speaking up or taking risks. Instead, you … Continue reading How to Conquer Your Critical Inner Voice →

Mapping out Disruption By Whitney Johnson

Driven by discovery.

This phrase sounds magical—evoking images of explorers like Columbus or Lewis and Clark. It seems even more magical when you consider one of the key attributes of a successful executive is curiosity, and that 70 percent of all successful new businesses end up with a strategy different than the one initially pursued. Groupon, for example, started out as an activism platform bringing people together to fundraise for a cause or to boycott retailers (ironic!) while Netflix, the Emmy-winning content company, started as a door-to-door DVD rental service.

But there’s a rub.

Discovery implies the unknown and most of us seem to prefer the safe harbor of the known–even when the known isn’t all that great. So, here’s a hack for putting some structure around navigating the unknown based on theory of discovery-driven planning of Rita Gunther-McGrath and Ian McMillan.

1. Create … Continue reading Mapping out Disruption →

Sandra sighed in annoyance when Carlos, her coworker, who bounced into the office humming an upbeat tune. Their team had just lost a major client, and he seemed clueless about how that might affect the company.

Over lunch, she vented her frustration to her great mentor—and to her surprise, her mentor told her that Carlos had exactly the right attitude. “Sandra, optimistic people have many life benefits that pessimists just don’t share,” she told her. “You see optimism as naïve. You’re analytical; you don’t want to believe anything that’s not based on solid reasoning. But here’s the thing—optimism is actually the most rational approach. Optimists aren’t just choosing to see things differently; they’re actively creating a better reality for themselves. Trust me, it works.”

Boosting Your Health

People that are optimistic have healthier hearts, a 2015 study by the University of Illinois found. To double your odds of … Continue reading Optimistic People and the Benefits of Their Attitudes →

Client Mitch Asks: I’ve just finished getting the results of my annual 360 review, and boy, am I discouraged! You would not believe the stuff people said about me. They say I’m causing the team to miss deadlines because I put things off until the last minute. The truth is, I work a lot better under pressure. The stress just makes me kick it up a notch and that’s when I get really creative. And around here, deadlines are missed all the time. Why am I to blame? Right now, I’m just waiting for the other shoe to drop—there’s a pink slip in my future. I’m sure of that. If everybody says about me is true, who would want me around anyway? Guess I’d better polish up the old resume.

Coach Joel Answers: Let’s take a step back here. I know performance reviews can be pretty upsetting, but they … Continue reading 3 Self Defeating Habits to Break Right Now →

Gianna had achieved some big milestones over the past year. Instead of coasting on these successes, she wanted to make a plan for building upon them. Many of her friends would make New Year’s resolutions. She didn’t want to wait til New Year’s day to set her goals. When the clock struck midnight, she would have her goals in hand, along with a roadmap of how to reach them.

Gianna asked me to help her work on setting her professional development goals, and this is the plan we came up with.

Prepare to Start Fresh

Complete the little projects you may have been procrastinating on. Tidy up your workspace so you feel clear-headed and motivated when you step into it. Have that tough conversation you’ve been avoiding—you’ll feel so much better when you’ve wrapped it up. Assess What You’ve Accomplished

Create a log of everything you’ve achieved over … Continue reading Professional Development Goals for Work →

Do you feel like you’re faced with an insurmountable barrier to your future success? Or have you received some tough feedback and aren’t sure where to go from here?

The good news is, the barriers we face in our careers usually aren’t out there, but within us. In the vast majority of cases, leaders have the power to transcend those obstacles by transforming how they look at them. And I’ll break down for you how other leaders have successfully broken some common self defeating behavior, step by step.

Tackle These 3 Self-Defeating Habits Now

Mitch Asks: I’ve just finished getting the results of my annual 360 review, and boy, am I discouraged! You would not believe the stuff people said about me. They say I’m causing the team to miss deadlines because I put things off until the last minute. The truth is, I work a lot better under … Continue reading How to Break Your Self Defeating Habits →

Client Clara asks: I always get so nervous before my annual performance review. How can I calm my nerves and make sure it goes as well as possible?

Coach Joel answers: Performance reviews can be daunting, but being proactive about the process will make it a motivating ritual that you look forward to. By conducting a review of your own performance before you meet with your boss, you’ll have thoughtful answers to all your boss’s questions. Here’s your guide on how to do that.

Frequency

Your boss might conduct performance reviews once a year, every six months, or on a quarterly basis. Forty-eight percent of employees are reviewed annually, and 26% are reviewed less than once a year, says Gallup. More frequent reviews are optimal, allowing you to recollect more of what happened during the review period.

Aim to conduct your own performance review on a quarterly basis. Even … Continue reading How to Conduct Your Own Performance Review →