Job changes, promotions, returning to work after maternity leave, or starting to work in a different country can bring stress or anxiety.
Will I be able to live up to the expectations? How will I be able to manage this new job? What if my language skills are not sufficient and I will miss important information?
These and many other questions may be running through your mind during your career transition.
Career transitions come with a palette of emotions, and more often than not, it can be stress, overwhelm, or worry rather than excitement. Learning how to navigate these feelings in times of career transitions can be a game-changer in how well you settle into your new role. It determines your succees, and MOST importantly, how good you FEEL.
Let's look at what is causing your confidence crisis and what you can do to manage it. If you are finding yourself in a career transition phase, I am hoping that these tips will help you manage it with calmer mind.
WHY DO YOU HAVE A CONFIDENCE CRISIS?
1. Instability
I have been in this situation multiple times, and over time I started to see a re-occurring pattern. No matter what your position was before, you have entered a phase of instability. Suddenly, you are in a new place, with new people around you, you have new responsibilities with many question marks that you need to find answers to. You have entered a phase of constant 'not knowing,' and 'uncertainty.'
Tip: Keep in mind that this phase is inevitable and embrace it. Approach it with a growth mindset and appreciate all you get to learn, rather than focusing on what you don't yet know.
2. High expectations
I don't mean those that come from your team, colleagues, or manager. I am talking about those that you have of yourself. If you want to be up to speed right from the start, you end up comparing yourself to very knowledgeable colleagues and feeling bad about not being on that same level. I mean, since they hired you, shouldn't you know all those things already?
Tip: Be more gentle with yourself. You might be your worst enemy here and create high pressure on yourself. Honour where you are, and recognise progress you are making.
3. Self-doubt
I could write a whole book about this one. Self-doubt is something that we all face into one degree or another. It can be helpful, as it tells us when something feels off. But when you doubt yourself very often, you limit your potential. You start to believe the story you tell yourself and act (or, better said - not act accordingly). It stops you from approaching people, being fully yourself, speaking up freely, and bringing the value you can. I believe that addressing it and learning how to manage it when it shows up is the most crucial part of creating absolute confidence - NOT based on your knowledge or skills but your own worth.
Tip: Download my FREE guide on 'How to Stop Feeling so Insecure at Work' which will help you gain a whole new perspective and take the first specific steps towards change.
Conclusion
Going through a career transition does not need to come with all the internal drama. There are specific ways on how to manage it and be in the 'driver's seat,' rather than feeling overwhelmed and lost.
The tips shared above are the starting points. If you want to go further with it and work on creating a change, learn how to be calm, focused, confident, and relaxed in any new situation, I invite you to get in touch and book your FREE discovery call.