Have you ever found yourself setting impossibly high standards for your own growth and achievements?
For some reason, as adults, we expect ourselves to go from zero to hero overnight. We compare ourselves to the best among us and slam ourselves mentally for not being good enough, fast enough.
We typically extend much more kindness to others, acknowledging that they need time and practice to learn and execute, but when it comes to ourselves, our expectations can border on absurd!
For example:
° Expecting to be an amazing public speaker
° Being incredibly impressive in meetings
° Knowing how to lead complex teams
° Implementing massive change
° Having difficult conversations
° Making tough decisions
° Feeling confident in a new leadership role
° Having influence and presence
° Communicating with impact
° Networking comfortably
When people are stuck and beating themselves up for not being more amazing, I often talk about visualising a dial. We explore what shifting the dial a couple of notches would look like, rather than expecting perfection straight away.
This approach relieves the pressure, removes overwhelm, clarifies first steps and builds momentum.
Deliberate, iterative action will accelerate things in the right direction more quickly than you think, to help you become a trusted and valued leader.
Do you have unrealistic expectations for yourself and not others? What has helped you to iterate and grow?
Comentários