Most people won't expect an employee with a week under their belt at a new job to be perfect. Everyone makes mistakes; it is how you recover from them that matters.
You were hired because they felt you were a great candidate for the job. One mistake doesn't negate this.
What types of positive stress outlets do you have? Do you have a good support system in your family and friends?
lilmissladybug - This is what I tell myself when I start feeling like an imposter at work:
"Easy girl! - Don't fall down that hole! You were a good candidate for this job, or they wouldn't have hired you. Every new thing comes with a learning curve, whether it's learning to use a new program or learning a new work process. They're willing to take the time to train you, so you need to be willing to giver yourself the time to learn. Learning how to do something the right way must always involve learning how not to do something. So deep breaths, make notes, and move on."
That word imposter stuck a note with me. I remember feeling like I was never going to "get it" when beginning my current job. Mentioned this to my DH and a dear friend. Both of them used that word, in the context that they had at one time or another felt like an IMPOSTER at a new job..
Don't tell yourself that, lilmissladybug. You were hired because you have the qualifications they were looking for. I'll bet in a few weeks this period of anxiety as the new girl will be a distant memory! Take some deep breaths. You're going to be fine!
Post by partiallysunny on Aug 25, 2014 20:04:20 GMT -5
What everyone else said. We've all felt like the imposter at one time or another. I have a tendency to be a perfectionist as well and it can be so tough to just let things roll of your back and promise yourself you'll do better next time. But that's exactly what you have to do. Repeat it until you believe it. "I'll learn from this and move on. No need to dwell."
I struggle with being a perfectionist too. I hate making mistakes and punish myself for a long time over things that don't really matter to others. It always feels awful when I make a mistake. I feel like I want to crawl into a whole and never come put. My therapist stresses that I need to work trough the icky feelings. Sometimes I can convince myself it is ok by saying I wouldn't be upset if someone else did this; I shouldn't be upset at me. Sometimes I will ask MH or best friend if I'm being reasonable.
I struggle with being a perfectionist too. I hate making mistakes and punish myself for a long time over things that don't really matter to others. It always feels awful when I make a mistake. I feel like I want to crawl into a whole and never come put. My therapist stresses that I need to work trough the icky feelings. Sometimes I can convince myself it is ok by saying I wouldn't be upset if someone else did this; I shouldn't be upset at me. Sometimes I will ask MH or best friend if I'm being reasonable.
I can so relate to what you wrote, greycat. That feeling of punishing myself way worse than the world does. We can be much harder on ourselves than any outsider. I like your therapist's suggestion of turning the tables. The mistakes I think are so huge, I would completely understand if someone else made them. That is a great idea.