Improving Self-Image for Career Growth

Have you ever looked at someone and wondered how they seem to have things going on and trailblazing? We all have someone that we admire for many reasons. It could be because they are healthier, trailblazing in their career, do better in managing their finances, their time, building relationships etc. Individuals who obtain success in their careers have a common denominator, Positive Self-Image! The secret to success in any area of our lives lies in how we perceive ourselves.

The way you perceive yourself affects your career in many ways:

• How you make decisions: People with positive self-image tend to make better and firmer decisions than those who are not.
• How you take feedback and criticism: People with negative self-image tend to take feedback personally. They tend to feel attacked. Those who have positive self-image use feedback to improve.
• How you connect with others and build a professional network: A negative self-image can make you feel like the underdog in every interaction. A healthy self-image helps you to see yourself as a contributor, you can see how you can add value to the relationships you're in. The are more examples I could give. But let us look at how you can improve your self-image to advance as a professional.

“Nothing Changes Until You Do” Mike Robbins.

1. Your career doesn't grow, You grow:Whenever you start doing things differently, you start seeing different results. I know that many people want to advance their careers in various ways. But, It is crucial to acknowledge that "nothing changes until you do". Your career takes shape as you continue to work on yourself. Let's say you want to improve your communication skills and learn how you build relationships. The first thing you are going to do is to read more on the subject, find a coach in the area and look for platforms where you are going to practice what you are learning. After some time, you get better in how you speak, your posture, your confidence etc. You gain the boldness to connect to other professionals. This will somehow make you a people magnet, you'll be invited to speak at events etc. For someone who is watching from the outside, they think your career is growing. They don't see the demons you had to fight at a personal level for you to get there. You had to outgrow and slay the fear to be expressive hence the advancement in your career. Our career simply takes the shape of the habits we form daily. You have to first grow, and face certain fears to start seeing the growth you desire in your career.
2. Focus On Improving Your Self-Image

"Over the long run, however, the real reason you fail to stick with habits is that your self-image gets in the way. This is why you can’t get too attached to one version of your identity. Progress requires unlearning. Becoming the best version of yourself requires you to continuously edit your beliefs, and to upgrade and expand your identity." James Clear        

We don't start growth by changing things on the outside. We first start working on our relationship with ourselves. The conversations in our heads play a big role in how we advance in our careers. There are certain things we have to unlearn, certain beliefs we have to let go of.

Some time ago, I was coaching one of my clients, she is trained in the field of entrepreneurship and has been teaching the subject for over 15 years. She shared with me how every day she sees the students she trained growing and they share how she has impacted their lives. However, she has been held back by the imposter syndrome. She is not where she wants to be financially and not running any business herself. The thoughts that, "How come I am not having a business of my own", "Why are people that I have groomed doing way better than I do", and What if I don't deserve ABCD? These thoughts are often limiting. If you don't quickly attend to them, become a routine in your mind and eventually part of you. How you see yourself!

Finally, The is no shortcut to growing in your career. It takes time, it takes commitment to change the way you think about yourself. Our career doesn't grow, you grow. Eventually, your career is shaped by the habits you have formed and the beliefs you hold.

In this newsletter, I tips that help you advance in your career and position yourself as a global Expert. If that is something you want to learn. Be sure to stay tuned. Remember to subscribe and share with your friends. See you next time!

About Author

Hello, I'm Nikita. I help professionals to be more effective in navigating the more globalised workplace through intercultural competence, and cultural intelligence.

I have also enjoyed working in various Universities as a professional Chinese language and Culture Instructor and lecturer.

To discover more about what I do and how we can work together, reach me here!