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Almost 70% of the workforce is either disengaged or actively disengaged. That means they either just don’t really care and are putting in time or they are purposefully making things worse for those around them. That leaves just over 30% who are enthusiastic, engaged and energized by their jobs. Not only do they love what they do, but they also go the extra mile to make a difference in their organization. Which one are you?  Your experience of engagement is probably mixed Perhaps a mix of both. Some days you love to be there, but most days you are dragging your butt out of bed and resenting having to the office. Which group would you place most of your employees in? Perhaps a mix of both as well. Some days they seem keen on helping out and supporting others. And at other times they appear fixated on making your life hell. But what if, you could change it? What if you could both increase your engagement at work as well as the level of engagement for those around you? You can! And truly, it doesn’t take much work. What it takes, is a mindset shift. Do this: To re-engage in your work, you need to decide you will. That means you actively
Don't expect overnight miracles Yes, everything around will be the same as it’s always been, at least initially. But gradually, your attitude will rub off on those around you. Gradually is the key word. The second key word was your attitude. Change your attitude my dear Mindset. Attitude. It’s the same thing.
Your outlook on your job and your view of the people you work with profoundly impacts your experience of work. Wayne Dyer said, “Change the way you look at things and the things you look at start to change.” What is your view? Consider these examples. Do you stop at the first part of the sentence or shift your attitude and add an alternative?
 Shifting your experience starts with shifting your attitude Gallup has identified 4 ways to improved employee engagement. But before you pop over there and read that article, check in to see what your attitude is.
Inspiring enthusiasm starts with you On last week’s FB Live session I talked about Inspiring Enthusiasm in Yourself and Your Team. We took Gallup’s measurement for engagement and flipped it around. Rather than waiting to see what others will do around you to make your work environment different. What are you doing to make that shift? Watch the live session here and don’t forget to grab your free guide here. Engagement is an attitude. It’s your attitude or your mindset. If you want to feel more enthused and engaged at work and you desire if for others, it starts with you! Watch last week's FB Live session below:
Learn more about shifting your mindset and attitude here
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Stop Worrying --> Develop Confidence Now, I am not suggesting you shouldn't worry. Well, ok, maybe I am. Don't worry, but do take it into account. Worrying is pretty much useless. Conscious pondering is very helpful.
Start with Competence
In my latest blog post Competence & Courage and the Connection to Confidence, I made the connection between having the skills (competence) and acting courageously to practice those skills so that you increase your confidence. Now we are taking that one step further, linking it all to credibility. Competence + Courage = Inner Confidence ** Expressing your Inner Confidence evokes Credibility ** Deepen your learning on how to increase your credibility....Watch this week's video!
What is the #1 fear in women leaders? It is the fear of not being competent, not measuring up, looking like an idiot, stumbling over your words, failing or making a big mistake! I hear it all the time from my clients: "I am afraid of looking like I am not competent"  Imposter Syndrome So many of us worry that someone will find out we don’t know how, can’t do it, or are completely inept. It keeps us awake at night and wreaks havoc with our self-esteem. It also tends to get in the way of doing a good job and feeling good about the work you do. We wonder if some day they will expose us for the fraud we are. The inaccurate use of the word competence Competence, having the skill or ability to do something, though it is sometimes confused with having the courage to use that skill and feeling confident when you learn to use it well. You have the skill; You are just afraid to use it Women worry they aren’t competent. Yet, they likely are very competent in many areas. What they lack is the courage to apply the skills, knowledge or talents. They also wait for confidence to show up before they step out. But the truth is, they all work together. Let me explain.
My story - A simple example of this: Last night I put on a session about work-life balance for a local agency. I show up, pull out my computer and my own projector and start hooking up the two. It took me less than 3 minutes, and I experienced no stress, feeling quite capable. I was able to multitask, chatting with the coordinator of the event while I attached the lines appropriately. The back story Rewind a few years when I first got the projector. I was panicked that I wouldn’t have it set up before the session started, worrying everyone would be sitting their rolling their eyes as they waited. Time-after-time I’d get it set up only to find it was projecting the wrong image. I’d get even more flustered when I went to play a video during the training. It never seemed to work. I felt inept, hesitant and fearful. My growth of competence and confidence Over the years by courageously working at it, I gained competent and confidence. First, I did some research on Mac computers and mirror screens. I gained the knowledge of how to share a different screen on the projector, than the one on my computer as the one I want to see, but don’t want you to see, has “presenter notes.” Next, I practiced. A lot. Over the years, I have set that projector up what feels like a zillion times. First I’d set it up at home, shining it on my dining room wall to get the hang of it. I brought it to Toastmasters trying it out on a safe crowd. I showed up early at events, courageously asked the Tech support at conferences for help and determinedly figured it out. Finally, I felt the confidence increase. Now, even when something goes wrong, I don’t get thrown. I slow down, become more mindful and walk myself through the process. It started with competence; learning how. I then had to be courageous, even if I wasn’t an expert and was a bit scared. The confidence followed the practice. Take a look at where you feel confident Break those steps down to things you now feel quite confident to do such as perhaps riding a bike, using a cell phone, cooking or managing money. You weren’t always able to do those things confidently. Knowledge, skills, practice and being brave all worked together to give you the feeling of competence (Tweet that) But, what you really have is a feeling of confidence. You had the competence early on, what you lacked was the belief in yourself. That faith in your abilities came with practice. Your turn Take a look at where you are struggling with a feeling if incompetence in your current role. First, step back and look at the skills you think you would need to feel that level of competence increase. Then look at where you may already have some of those skills, where you could gain more. Then, identify how you can practice that. Finally, grab ahold of some courage and start practicing. You’ll find the competence and confidence both come in a short while after. How it might look for you You may feel incompetent in addressing difficult conversations feeling you lack conflict resolution skills. Step back: Where do you communicate in all facets of your life? With your spouse, children, community board or with the last car dealer you purchased from are examples of potentially daily conflict situations.
Practice: Look for opportunities to practice your current skills and the new ones you learn. This is where courage comes into play. You may want to take on a new role on your community board or attend the local Chamber of Commerce meetings. However, you may already have lots of places to practice, without taking on anything new. They key, is to put yourself out there and try it. Don’t sit back and “see what will happen.” Don’t avoid conversations hoping it will go away. Get in there and let it get a bit messy. You will never learn without trying.  Competence + Courage = Confidence Competence is knowing how. Courage is doing it even when it feels scary. Confidence is experiencing it and realizing you lived through it. (Tweet that) The next time you find yourself worrying about feeling incompetent, take a deep breath and remind yourself, I’ll figure it out. Then …figure it out!
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Kathy ArcherWomen leaders often hit a point where they find themselves in over their heads and wondering if they have what it takes to lead. Archives
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