Where "Fake It 'Til You Make It" Gets You At Work
When I was 14, I agreed to babysit four of my cousins all summer. I loved babies (and there were two...) and had been watching them their whole lives, so the prospect of watching them all day, five days a week didn't seem like such a big deal.
A few weeks in, I realized I was in way over my head: One cousin showed up with a new VHS tape she'd just picked up from the grocery store, and I didn't know she'd even left the house -- or was allowed to go anywhere by herself. Not to mention, my attempts at being authoritative were weak (I let them watch so much TV because they'd sit mostly still and be quiet).
After realizing that I couldn't pretend to handle it all and still keep my sanity, I admitted defeat and only watched two of them two days a week. I may have only been 14, but it was a valuable lesson in admitting my limits and understanding what kind of environment I can work in.
Now when I'm aware of something that's out of my comfort zone at work, I have a lot more resources to either push myself through it or decide if it's not for me. Marla Gottschalk, organizational psychologist and workplace strategist, spends her days consulting individuals and companies on navigating career challenges and is a wealth of knowledge when it comes to this kind of stuff. Here's her advice for handling self-doubt and evaluating your strengths and weaknesses.
LINKEDIN: Is it OK to "fake it until you make it" at work?
GOTTSCHALK: Yes – let me explain.
Most of us have been in situations where we question ourselves and our ability to succeed. Whether this is in response to significant challenge, promotion or a stretch assignment, we can experience a lapse in confidence.
We can be inaccurate judges of our own abilities – and often underestimate what we can accomplish. However, if we simply can begin and make some measure of progress forward, that feeling can subside. You must keep putting one foot in front of the other.
If the feelings of doubt seem to linger, reflect on where you feel your weakness lies and attempt to address it. Seek a mentor and explore your doubts. Above, all get the direction and support that you might need.
LINKEDIN: How can someone identify and address their strengths and weaknesses?
GOTTSCHALK: That is a very interesting question – and the reality is we need an accurate picture of who we are in the workplace to move forward. It is critical to seek information from a number of different sources. For example, from supervisors, colleagues and clients - with the goal of obtaining a 360 degree view of you.
There are also aspects of our work life that are part of our “invisible” or “unwritten” resume. In many cases, others might hesitate to share this information with us. However, when things don’t “add up” for us work-wise (continually overlooked for promotion, not assigned to valued assignments), we need to probe further.
We also have our own assessment to consider. When I first meet with a client, whether an individual or a business, I usually inquire about their view of strengths and weaknesses. If they have difficulty answering the question, I usually ask the following: What tasks do you feel drawn to? What do you find yourself avoiding? For a business, I might ask: How do you think your customers view your organization? We are more self-aware then we’d like to admit. It’s listening to our inner voice that is often the challenge.
Transacting strengths into opportunity is also critical – and aligning work with our strengths is a good place to start. Setting forth a plan to impact relative weaknesses is also part of the picture. This involves setting clear goals and identifying learning/development opportunities.
Have you ever been in the position of having to "fake it" at work? How did you deal with the self-doubt?
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