Operations execs often reach out to me when their confidence has been shaken by their superiors. Despite many years of expertise and dedication, being undermined is not uncommon, and it can be deeply disheartening.
How do you survive unfair criticism, missed promotions, or other brutal realities of office politics?
In a similar situation, I felt minimized, isolated, embarrassed, and off balance. And I still had to show up as if my self-esteem wasn’t just destroyed.
If this sounds familiar, I empathize with your situation. And, I know that perseverance is one of your core strengths. Your ability to bounce back is in your control. It’s time to tap into your innate resilience.
In this episode, I’ll share three steps to help you recover your confidence and get back on track personally and professionally.
In today’s politically charged corporate world, twists, turns and bumps in the road are inevitable. Like you didn’t have enough to deal with, right? Leading operations is demanding. It requires you to juggle lots of competing priorities to keep everything running smoothly.
When you’ve been knocked about by the political realities in your org on top of that, the weight is heavy.
The mark of a truly great captain is not avoiding the storm. It’s steering through it with resolve and emerging stronger and wiser.
If you’ve lost confidence in yourself due to events outside your control, here are three steps to regain your confidence and your professional equilibrium.
Replenishing Your Spirit After a Professional Setback
First, take time to acknowledge the setback before diving back into your to-do list. Your nervous system has probably taken a hit. Give yourself permission to unplug and do whatever it takes to replenish your spirit.
Your nervous system will feel naturally calmer when you make room for your humanity, breathe deeply, laugh, walk in nature, and let yourself rest without guilt.
When I’m feeling overwhelmed, I rely on what I call my MEDSS recipe (with two S’s): Meditation, Exercise, a nourishing Diet, Sun and Sleep. You know what works for you. Find it and do it.
While you’re giving yourself space, remember past successes and future opportunities. Put this situation in perspective so you can accept it, learn from it, and move on when the time is right.
How Your Network Can Help Rebuild Your Confidence
Secondly, consider your network. In Operations, it’s easy to get caught in your own world, creating an echo chamber where it’s easy to start questioning your capabilities.
When your confidence has taken a hit, your instinct might be to withdraw like a turtle from others. But this is actually the best time to connect outside that echo chamber. Nothing beats having a trustworthy sounding board. Find a mentor, peer or coach who can provide a generous ear and constructive feedback.
You might be surprised how many others have faced similar setbacks. Connecting with like-minded people allows you to share experiences and this can give you fresh insights and ideas.
Focusing on Small Wins to Regain Professional Stability
Last but not least, focus on small, incremental wins and solutions, instead of the problem. Regaining confidence often requires evidence of your strengths. So, shift your mindset to what can be done.
Continue to excel in your current role. Make your achievements visible. Your tenacity will eventually pay off, one way or another.
And when did you last assess your strengths and areas for growth? Now is perhaps the time to reflect and ask yourself: What should I learn here? Consider focusing on:
- Building your EQ
- Prioritizing self-care
- Increasing adaptability
- Navigating office politics smoothly
- Developing self-advocacy muscles, or
- Recognizing when you’ve outgrown your current situation.
These reflections can help you realign your goals and prove that you can drive progress.
Conclusion
Recovering from this kind of hit to your confidence takes deliberate steps and a growth mindset. I hope you find peace and I trust you’ll emerge from this stronger and more resilient.
Today I’ll leave you with this question: What steps will you take today to take care of yourself?
If this episode was of value for you, I recommend listening to episode 11, ‘The Secret Ops Execs Use to Trust Themselves More’. In it you’ll get a practice you can use to manage the pesky negative thoughts that keep you down. You’ll find the episode at yourfuturerealized.com/11.
You can’t stop the chaos, but you can change the game.
