WinAspire
At the beginning of your career, when many of us suffer from impostor syndrome or feel like our “dream job” is impossible, there is a lot of focus paid to overcome mentality challenges. This is because this is the time when you are most likely to fail. But what happens when we reach the top of our field and take on leadership roles? Does this mean that none of our past mental blocks exist anymore?
Not exactly. You might not worry that you are incompetent anymore (although for some individuals, that feeling never goes away), but a whole variety of new attitude problems can emerge, and because these problems aren’t talked about as often, it might not be quite as easy to recognize them.
Here’s what you should be looking out for.
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1. Getting too comfortable
If you have had a prosperous career up to this point, there is a good likelihood that you are an ambitious and conscientious person by nature. It seems reasonable to assume that you will maintain the same attitude over the entirety of your career, doesn’t it? You could believe that, but in many situations, the contrary is actually the case.
It seems that eventually most people get to the point where they conclude that their best course of action is to keep quiet, do their best to blend in, and make no waves whatsoever. What’s the deal? They are much too cozy to wear. If you have the impression that you have your role’s formula down pat and that everything is proceeding normally, modifying that formula can appear to be taking on an unacceptable amount of risk.
However, there is a danger associated with holding this mindset because, after all, nobody is indispensable. Furthermore, shouldn’t we all strive to deliver the highest possible amount of value?
Therefore, challenge yourself to engage in at least one activity that will make you feel uneasy at least once per week. This could be anything from arguing with someone in a gathering to offering your assistance with a subject you know nothing about.
If the thought of that makes you anxious, there may be another, more fundamental reason for why you’re frightened to challenge yourself and explore the world.
2. Fearing you’ll lose what you have
It’s become a tired cliché, but when discussing a subject of this nature, it’s impossible to avoid talking about fixed versus development mindsets. Those who have a fixed mindset do not miraculously overcome their fixed thinking when they progress in the ranks, despite the fact that this topic is frequently discussed in relation to the beginning stages of a career.
When people are just starting out in their jobs, they feel the pressure to “prove themselves” by doing a great deal in a short amount of time and gaining respect from their peers. Those who have a fixed mindset will be able to accomplish this goal by concentrating on the areas in which they excel and avoiding those in which they perform poorly, which will enable them to advance in their careers.
When they reach a point where they believe they have attained a particular degree of status and respect, however, they shift their attention to desperately trying to hold on to what they already have. This is all due to the same line of reasoning, which states that if people see them to be unable, then they will lose everything they have.
This kind of thinking has become second nature to a great number of us, and we may not even be aware of it. Instead, make an effort to develop what is known as a growth mentality. Recognize the areas in which you are lacking knowledge and actively seek out fresh experiences.
3. Not negotiating raises or promotions
It’s become a tired cliché, but when discussing a subject of this nature, it’s impossible to avoid talking about fixed versus development mindsets. Those who have a fixed mindset do not miraculously overcome their fixed thinking when they progress in the ranks, despite the fact that this topic is frequently discussed in relation to the beginning stages of a career.
When people are just starting out in their jobs, they feel the pressure to “prove themselves” by doing a great deal in a short amount of time and gaining respect from their peers. Those who have a fixed mindset will be able to accomplish this goal by concentrating on the areas in which they excel and avoiding those in which they perform poorly, which will enable them to advance in their careers.
When they reach a point where they believe they have attained a particular degree of status and respect, however, they shift their attention to desperately trying to hold on to what they already have. This is all due to the same line of reasoning, which states that if people see them to be unable, then they will lose everything they have.
This kind of thinking has become second nature to a great number of us, and we may not even be aware of it. Instead, make an effort to develop what is known as a growth mentality. Recognize the areas in which you are lacking knowledge and actively seek out fresh experiences.
4. Being too loyal to one company
In order to maximize their earning potential and seniority, it is common practice for ambitious professionals to move from company to company. This is especially true for those who work in industries that are known for their rapid speed, such as the information technology sector.
However, once they achieve a particular milestone in their professional lives, a peculiar thing takes place: They make the decision to remain in the same location. Is it possible that they’ve finally discovered a company whose values and ethos align with their own, and as a result, they don’t want to switch jobs? Or is it because they have a sense of safety and contentment?
To provide satisfactory responses, one must engage in some introspection. However, even if you have a valid reason for working for the same company for the previous 10 years, it is still a good idea to analyze your options and evaluate any underlying mental blocks that may be preventing you from taking the leap.
Why not arrange for a few interviews to take place? You are not required to take the first offer that is made to you; consider of it as a way of testing the waters.
5. Shying away from innovation
When we are young, the neuroplasticity of our brains is at its highest, which makes us like sponges that can easily pick up new behaviors and techniques. As a consequence of this, young professionals are more inclined to view the world with a more open perspective.
As we get older as professionals, we have a higher tendency to continue with business as usual and lose interest in whatever is now cutting edge in our field. In order to combat this pervasive sense of mediocrity in your sector, you should make a concerted effort to remain current with emerging trends and innovative best practices.
6. Failing to upskill
Moving through our careers and into the later phases of life can make us reluctant to be inventive. It can also inhibit us from learning new skills, which is similar to how it can make us reluctant to be innovative.
There are a lot of problems with mindsets that don’t have clear action steps that you can take to fix them. However, if you aren’t improving your skillset, the solution is simple: you need to be more proactive in looking for ways to enhance your skill set.
While you are keeping up with industry trends, discover skills and knowledge gaps and make it a priority to address those gaps, despite the fact that they may make you feel uncomfortable. In addition, why not inquire with your company about the possibility of receiving financial assistance in order to finish a training program or course?
You wouldn’t recommend to the individuals you lead that they become complacent with their professions, therefore set the bar high for yourself and work hard to advance in your own career. That is going to need you to go deeply into your fears and to act in ways that are going to put you in an uncomfortable position. However, the dividends you will reap from investing in yourself will make the effort more than worthwhile.