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Even the most prepared and accomplished professionals experience periods of self-doubt. Often, these feelings work on a subconscious level. But if left unaddressed, they can limit your potential and can even sabotage your career.<\/p>\n
For some, the root of self-doubt lies in fear of failure<\/a>. Others, meanwhile, have a fear of success. So, whether you suffer from full-blown impostor syndrome<\/a> or need a gentle reminder to push past your insecurities, these proven tactics can help you own your achievements.<\/p>\n Ellen Taaffe, assistant professor of leadership at the Kellogg School of Management, has learned how to manage her self-doubt over a long career in brand marketing.\u00a0 Taaffe offers three tips in Kellogg Insight<\/a>\u00a0for how to act decisively, even when you feel out of your league.<\/p>\n Tip 1: Don\u2019t stay in the role of observer. <\/strong>Often, the default response in the face of insecurity is to watch the action from the sidelines. Either you\u2019re afraid of making a mistake or feel unqualified to dive in. Taaffe warns against this tendency to hang back and observe.<\/p>\n Instead, she suggests launching in as early as possible. \u00a0Moments of career transition, such as starting a new job or managing a team for the first time, are ideal times to put this into practice, Taaffe explains.<\/p>\n By shifting your perspective from \u201cI don\u2019t know this yet\u201d to \u201cI\u2019m learning here,\u201d you bring fresh ideas to the conversation, she adds.<\/p>\n \u201cThe more you chime in,” says Taaffe, “the more comfortable you will feel the next time.\u201d<\/p>\n Tip 2: Take a cue from those around you. <\/strong>Self-doubters tend not to go for a promotion or head up a project unless they feel 100% qualified. Research shows that men are more likely to throw their hat in the ring for a promotion\u2014even if they don\u2019t quite meet the job description criteria. On the other hand, women often want to feel completely capable of doing the job<\/a> before they apply.<\/p>\n Overcome your self-doubts by looking at how other people at your company have accepted a stretch assignment and succeeded. Stretch assignments get you noticed and put you in the spotlight in the eyes of management. \u00a0While there is the potential to fail, more likely, you\u2019ll see a positive impact on your career advancement by taking that risk.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s easy to forget that all of us are hired or promoted due to our potential to learn the role versus already being able to do it at an A+ level,\u201d says Taaffe.<\/p>\n Tip 3: Watch your language. <\/strong>Your word choices and communication style can telegraph your self-doubts to the world. \u00a0Common blunders include speaking too fast and using filler words and phrases, such as \u201cyou know,\u201d \u201cum,\u201d \u201cuh,\u201d and \u201clike.\u201d Then, there\u2019s the tendency to end a sentence on a higher octave, making it sound like a question rather than a statement.<\/p>\n Taaffe recommends avoiding rhetorical questions or opening qualifiers. Phrases like \u201cDoes that make sense?\u201d or \u201cThis may be a bad idea but\u2026\u201d signal doubt, she explains, and makes listeners think that the statement is less worthy of consideration.<\/p>\n Instead, Taaffe suggests using \u201cmore confident-sounding open-ended questions, such as \u2018What are your thoughts?\u2019 or \u2018What questions do you have?\u2019.\u201d<\/p>\n Finally, seeking feedback from a supervisor might put an end to a lot of the self-doubt you feel. Hearing the unvarnished truth from a trusted friend or mentor can offer much-needed clarity. Also, Taaffe says, \u201cIt can act as encouragement to monitor your own behavior and give you a confidence boost that acts as a kind of permission to jump right in and not hold back.\u201d<\/p>\n ***<\/p>\n Did you enjoy this post and its tips to conquer self-doubts?\u00a0 It <\/em>originally appeared on\u00a0the Blacklight<\/a>, our weekly newsletter for professionals. At\u00a0<\/em>the Blacklight, we\u00a0aim to illuminate<\/a>\u00a0with every dispatch that lands in your inbox.\u00a0<\/em>If you\u2019re thirsty for guidance to help you slay it at work or as a student and move your goalposts closer,\u00a0sign up<\/a>\u00a0today!<\/em><\/p>\n <\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/p>\n The post How Self-Doubt Can Stall Your Career<\/a> appeared first on Stacy Blackman Consulting - MBA Admissions Consulting<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cFRESH IDEAS FROM THE BLACKLIGHT\u201d SBC\u2019s Weekly Newsletter for Professionals Even the most prepared and accomplished professionals experience periods of self-doubt. Often, these feelings work on a subconscious level. But…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":122,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"1","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[11,749,775,243],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-50797","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-mba","category-stacy-blackman","category-admission-consultants","category-blog","entry"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\n\t\t\n\n
Doubt kills more dreams than failure ever will.<\/h5>\n
\u2014Suzy Kassem<\/h5>\n<\/blockquote>\n
Conquering Self-Doubt<\/h3>\n
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\u201cStaying silent is a self-protection mechanism, but it\u2019s not the best choice.\u201d<\/h5>\n<\/blockquote>\n
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\u201cIf we hold ourselves to a higher bar than others and as a result do not pursue bigger opportunities, we can get left behind, even in roles where we could have developed and excelled.\u201d<\/h5>\n<\/blockquote>\n
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Another helpful trick is to record yourself speaking in a mock presentation or answering job interview questions. That way, you can spot and analyze those verbal ticks. You may cringe while reviewing it, but you\u2019ll also learn at once where you need to improve.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"