Self-efficacy as the key to (professional) fulfilment
Sometimes we simply function at work, driven by the events around us. And sometimes we feel powerless in such moments.
Do we have control over our feelings and emotions when we succeed or fail?
Psychologists call this feeling self-efficacy.
Self-efficacy is the firm belief that we can overcome difficult situations on our own. We are convinced that we have things under our own control.
This basic conviction often determines whether we experience joy or disappointment. Whether things feel difficult or easy. Whether we accept things or fight against them.
People with high self-efficacy are convinced that they are responsible for their own happiness and act accordingly with more self-confidence.
In contrast, people with low self-efficacy often feel at the mercy of circumstances and see themselves as victims of them. Others are to blame for their situation. Or the circumstances are. As a result, even small tasks sometimes seem insurmountable.
Self-efficacy shapes the way we think, act and feel. Our attitude and mindset are decisive for our success. They influence how we approach tasks, solve problems and assert ourselves in our professional lives.
If we believe before a project: ‘I won’t be able to do it. It’s impossible”, then we will have a bad feeling about the project from the outset. We will work on it with little self-confidence and little energy. And the result will prove us right. In the end, we’ll know: ‘It was clear that it couldn’t be done.’
If we now start the same project with an attitude of: ‘This is challenging. But I’ll find a way”, then we approach it with a completely different enthusiasm and energy. We have positive images of the project outcome in our heads and feel this enthusiasm in our bodies. Accordingly, we will find solutions and lead the project to success.
No matter what we think. We will be right.
The good news is: self-efficacy can be developed! And every step we take to strengthen our self-efficacy leads to a more fulfilling and successful life.
Developing potential: a holistic approach to self-efficacy
Modern brain research shows ways in which we can utilise our full potential: By balancing all aspects of our mind – the cognitive, the emotional and the conscious mind.
1. cognitive level
This level includes our analytical thinking. The mind sets objectives, processes information and structures facts, primarily through the left hemisphere of the brain. In everyday working life, we focus almost exclusively on this level. When making decisions, we rely exclusively on logic, figures, data and facts. However, it has now been scientifically proven that we make more than 85% of our decisions emotionally and that our mind only justifies these decisions. Research also shows that other aspects are important for professional success and life satisfaction.
2. emotional level
At the ‘heart level’, our emotions play the main role, controlled primarily by the right hemisphere of the brain. This level enables empathy and creative impulses. It is the level at which we learn to understand and accept our own feelings and those of others. We need the emotional level in order to build deep and genuine relationships.
3. level of consciousness
Our attitude activates both hemispheres of the brain. When we learn to synchronise thoughts, feelings and actions, we unfold our full potential and improve our cooperation with others. Only when our heart and brain are coherent, i.e. we feel what we think, can we be authentic and radiate this.
If we are aware of these connections and integrate the three levels into our everyday working life, we can develop a strong inner self-efficacy. This not only strengthens our professional career, but also promotes our personal development and contributes to a more fulfilling life. By consciously managing our thoughts and feelings on all levels, we create a resonance that attracts positive results and appropriate relationships.
Practical steps to strengthen self-efficacy and increase satisfaction
Self-efficacy can be increased step by step. Here are 4 steps to improve your self-efficacy in everyday working life:
1. emotional future picture
Start by creating a clear emotional picture of your professional goals. Ask yourself: Who do I want to be? How do I want to behave? Who do I want to work with? How do I want to feel? Visualise your goals and feel the emotions that go hand in hand with this success.
2. lived values
Determine your core values. Which values are important to you? How can you live them in specific situations? Incorporate these values into your work every day. With every action and decision, you should ask yourself: Does this correspond to my values? This not only strengthens your sense of self-efficacy, but also makes your work more fulfilling. Only values enable us to act in uncertainty. They are the bridge between knowledge and action.
3. conscious attitude
Actively develop an attitude that is characterised by an awareness of self-efficacy. See yourself as the creator of your life and your career, not as a victim of circumstances. Such an attitude enables you to see challenges as opportunities and to act proactively even in difficult times.
4. daily reflection
Take a few minutes each day to reflect on your successes, decisions and challenges. Think about when you have lived your values, what you are grateful for and which value you would like to focus on even more in the future.
The resonance of your strengthened self-efficacy
By consciously strengthening your self-efficacy, you not only lay the foundation for professional success, but also set a powerful effect in motion. You will have a new charisma that acts like a magnet, attracting people, opportunities and situations that align with your values and goals. When you actively work on your skills and self-confidence, you send out clear signals to those around you that emphasise who you are and what you want to achieve.
By consciously living your values and acting from a creative attitude, you will soon notice a positive change. Both internally and externally. You will notice how you become more effective and can set positive impulses in your environment. Soon you will recognise: ‘Life means well with me.’
Notes:
The procedure can also be applied to teams and companies. It only takes two more steps. But then suddenly everything turns round and there is more ease, team flow and top performance. If you have any questions, write to Dr Sven Haase on LinkedIn.
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Dr Sven Haase has published another article in the t2informatik Blog:
As a WOW! company shaping the future
Dr. Sven Haase
Dr. Sven Haase assists companies and teams on the path to healthy peak performance – for a quantum leap in value creation. He is convinced that sustainability in harmony with organisational development, cultural development and regenerative leadership are the success model for sustainable companies. Dr Haase has more than 10 years of practical experience as a project manager, executive and transformation manager in various organisations – from SMEs to corporations.