Lizzy
is 37years old and a Service Manager in a residential care home for
adults with disability. She has been married for 15 years with three
children aged 11, 9 and 7. Lizzy has always enjoyed working with
disabled people and has always wanted to move up the career ladder
within the social care profession. She is currently going through a
self confident crisis at work and has this to say:
“Since I took up the
role of Service Manager seven months ago, my confidence level just
went down. I was on my previous job as Team Leader for six years
reporting to the Service Manager. In that capacity, I knew everyone
really well and there was always a colleague to chat to. So, I was
really enthusiastic when I got the senior position, but now my low
confidence is holding me back, and I know I need to get over it. My
new job involves direct management responsibility for 25
support workers with a requirement to deliver high quality
personalised care support services to 12 disabled adults living
independently in their individual flats.
On
my first day in a service manager meeting, I felt really inadequate
and was finding it hard to even express myself. I know there's a lot
to learn about the job but my mind keeps thinking about things I
might have said or done wrong. A few days ago, the area manager
called me over the phone and requested an update about an on-going
issue with a customer but I got the issue mixed up with another
customer. I also worry about what people might be saying or thinking
about me even though I know everyone is too busy and that I'm
probably the last person on their mind. I also worry that people are
thinking that I am not up to the job. It's strange the way I am
feeling at work as I'm confident in many other aspects of my life
especially at home and in social environment.”
First
of all, I say well done to you Lizzy for mustering the caurage to
step out of your comfort zone.
Action
steps for Lizzy each time fear sets in thinking about the things she
might have done wrong:
- Stop whatever you are doing and take three deep breathes in and out.
- Take notice of the fear building up within you and accept it.
- Make a conscious decision not to let it determine your response
- Take note of the fear, then say to it, 'Thanks for the input'
- Then deliberately choose how you want to respond to it.
- Affirm to yourself, “No one can put me down without my permision”
- Keep repeating this mantra to yourself until you begin to notice a positive change in your confidence level
- Cultivate the habit of asking for feedback from your line manager or colleagues so you can hear how you are really coming across.
- Find a mentor at work that you can confide in and lean on for support, and who'll be honest with you.
- Keep a daily log of things you are doing well and things that you need to be improving upon.
- Become more aware that everything you do at work, right or wrong, is your teacher.
