WHAT
Self-efficacy is the belief we hold in ourselves and in our own abilities.
WHY
When we believe our actions have a positive impact, it boosts our confidence and helps us try new things, set new goals, learn new skills, adopt new mindsets, and confront challenges head on - even in challenging times. Task-oriented self-confidence has been directly linked to employee learning, engagement, motivation, and performance. Without it, we might avoid taking action as things seem too hard.
HOW I CAN USE THIS:
According to researcher Albert Bandura, there are at least four sources of self-efficacy, and you can draw on any or all of these to boost your self-efficacy:
Recall your past performance - mastery experiences. Think about your past successes when you encountered a challenging situation. How did you overcome the challenge? What skills or strengths did you draw upon? What did you learn? Who else was involved? Now, what can you take from those experiences into your current situation?
Look for role models - vicarious experiences. You can take inspiration from others who have succeeded in the past. Look for people who are like you in some way. Think about colleagues, mentors, loved ones, or even someone who you may not know, but whom you admire and may have been in a similar situation. What can you learn from their actions? What did they do and how did they achieve their goals? What does this tell you about how to possibly succeed in your current situation?
Get a pep talk - verbal persuasion. When someone you respect has trust and faith in you, they can give you a boost with words of encouragement. If they’re not available, give yourself a pep-talk - don’t underestimate the power of encouraging yourself and becoming your own best cheerleader. Try talking to yourself in the third-person.
Do a gut check - know your emotional and physiological states. Feeling down or upset can decrease your self-efficacy. When you start with small wins, or something that you enjoy, you can pick up your mood, feel better, and get started on a positive path towards more self-efficacy. Research has shown that belief in your own abilities is tied to your physical and emotional state. Take care of your body and boost your mood with a short walk, a cup of tea, a cuddle with your dog - whatever it takes to get your mind and body in a more positive state.
HOW I CAN HELP OTHERS:
Encourage others to remember what they did well by asking (or reminding) them about past successes. For example,
Think of a time when you successfully worked with limited resources, or overcame a technological or other barrier to complete a project.
Think of a time when you used your creativity or resourcefulness to overcome a work challenge or adapt quickly to a new scenario.
Help others set small, achievable goals during a time of stress or uncertainty.
Ask them to think of someone they admire who overcame a similar challenge. What behaviors, actions or skills did that person exhibit?
Share a short relatable video, article, or case study that shows a similar kind of person overcoming a comparable challenge.
Show confidence in them and tell them how you believe they can be successful. Be specific, acknowledge effort, and focus on the process.
Take a mood check and encourage breaks when someone’s mood is affecting their performance.
Gather evidence of achievements and celebrate success with the team.
Authors:
Eudaimonic by Design is a global network of consultants, facilitators and systems thinkers who share a passion for the science of well-being and believe that organizations must be designed to enable it. We harness the best of scholarly thought and years of practical experience to help people be truly engaged, act ethically and pursue excellence.
Sign up to our Resource Library
Get first-hand access to our rich resources, exclusive insights, and the latest updates from thought leaders in resilience. Enhance your understanding and stay ahead with EUBD.