Embracing Self-Efficacy

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WHAT IS SELF-EFFICACY?

Self-efficacy is the belief that you can succeed at a given task. It affects your motivation, performance, and even learning capacity.  When you believe it is possible to succeed you attempt more tasks and put more effort into the tasks you take on. 

WHY IS IT IMPORTANT?

Self-efficacy is important because it drives our confidence in our abilities. This is a helpful quality, but as with so many things it is best in moderation.

Think of self-efficacy this way. Would you ever follow a leader if they didn’t believe in their mission? No. Also, would you a leader if they had a reputation of blind confidence, and never learning from their mistakes? I hope not!

Best results come from balance.  We hone our craft and take every opportunity to show it off, but also learn from our mistakes as we go.  This leads to positivity outcomes all around; we become even better at our skill, and exist in a positive emotional state, believing we are capable of success.

STEPS FOR DEVELOPING SELF-EFFICACY

Positive influences and experiences build self-efficacy. because the environment is encouraging, open-minded, and focuses on growth. How we grow up and who we choose to spend time with ultimately shaped our early emotional states, attitudes, and vibes towards ourselves, others, and the environment around us. Thus, the first step of self-efficacy begins with self-reflection.

Check out the following questions:

  • Who are you currently (i.e., a good friend)?
  • Who do you want to be (i.e., a great friend)?
  • What are your opportunities for improving?
  • What are your barriers to improving?


With this framework, we have the opportunity to observe, document, and self-reflect. Do you have opportunities to become the person you want to be? 

It is also important to take feedback from the reality around us:

  • Have you ever successfully done something that you didn't believe was possible?
  • Did you reassess how capable you are, or think to yourself that it was luck?
  • Have you ever failed when you thought you were likely to succeed?
  • Did you reassess how capable you are or assume failure was due to chance?
Taking cues from what actually happens in our environment can give us valuable clues.  Many times, we are capable of more than we realize!



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