Your work environment, your tasks and colleagues of course play a role in how you enjoy and feel at work – but you yourself are ultimately responsible for your development and your well-being. We all have days when we feel inadequate at work, luckily there are a number of simple things you can do to feel better today.
The exciting career site Career Girl Daily has compiled a list of tips on how to keep your head above the surface when things get stressful and challenging at work. Read through and think about what changes you need in your life to be more comfortable in your role at the office.
1. Avoid negative energy
It can feel hard to receive criticism, but try to see it on the bright side. As long as the criticism is constructive, it will make you better. And when one of your colleagues spreads negative energy, try to see the positive in what they are complaining about. If you have a problem that needs to be solved – do it. But if the negative energy is about general lamentations, you’ll always get the farthest by spreading smiles and staying positive.
2. Focus on yourself
You are the only one who will look after yourself, which makes it important that you set clear goals and keep track of your own development. Employers don’t always have time to follow up and adjust, you have to take responsibility yourself to get better at your job.
3. Find out what applies
There is nothing worse than not knowing what and why you should do a certain way in different situations. When something comes up that feels unclear or you are given a task that you don’t really understand the basics of, read up and always ask questions. It can feel difficult in the moment to be that questioning person, but being unsure of how something works is far, far worse in the long run. Praise a colleague for their knowledge and ask for help when there is something you don’t understand about the subject (you will get praise back when it is your turn to know).
Read more: 4 things you can do to be taken seriously at work
4. Professional courage
There will be times when you need to stand up for yourself and your opinions, even if it may lead to a conflict. The easy way is to keep quiet about what you think, but always being the one who backs down makes you neither safe nor happy in the long run.
Read more: 6 crucial tips that will get you a higher salary at your next salary negotiation
5. Make friends
Being new at work is exciting, but also tough and scary. You are trying to become part of an already well-established “family” and it may take time. Make sure to go out to lunches right from the start and to take the time necessary to get to know your colleagues a little better. Even if you don’t hang out in private, it makes a big difference to the hours you spend at work.
6. Know your strengths
Knowing your strengths and how to make the most of them is the perfect strategy for building confidence at work. Remind yourself (often!) of why you fit so well in your role, your confidence will show. When you are asked a question about one of your tasks, projects or the like, answer in a clear voice (regardless of whether you are the least bit unsure or not). You are awesome and you should know and show it!
Read more: 6 common words you should avoid to appear more confident at work
7. Embrace your weaknesses
Don’t hide them away hoping no one will notice. Start by identifying who they are, and make a plan for how you will work with them. You can also ask one or more colleagues how you can improve in these areas. It’s a real confidence boost to get better at something you’ve been unsure about for a long time.
8. Make the most of your time outside the office
Talk to friends, cry and laugh. Eat things you like, sit in the sun and recharge if you’ve had a stressful day. The more you can disconnect from your work tasks during your lunch break and in the evenings, the easier it will be to dive into work once you do your office hours.
9. Be kinder to yourself
If you want to feel good at work and develop in your role, you have to stop being your own worst enemy and critic. You are the only one who can turn the negative thoughts in your head into something positive.
