At some point in time, you will work for a bad boss. Chances are you already have. But I find that people are their own worst boss. We have much more control over things that can enhance or detract from our career progress than we believe. Why is it that we allow ourselves to be our own worst boss? Why do we keep telling ourselves lies that detract from our career progress?
The voice inside your head, the inner critic, is the worst boss you will ever have. In contrast to a bad boss at work, the voice inside your head isn’t so easy to escape. If your inner critic is one of the greats, it will convince you to truly believe what it has to say. While you cannot fire your inner critic you can quiet it down by knowing the common lies you tell yourself that detracts from your career progress.
Lie Number One
I’m doing my best. We don’t have difficult conversations with ourselves and that isn’t the kind of boss you want. You want a boss who will push you to do and be better. When your inner critic is saying you are doing your best,
Lie Number Two
I don’t need to work on professional development. There are many valid reasons your inner critic will say you don’t need professional development. Maybe you’ve been in your role for a long time. Or you’ve come a long way from where you started. Maybe you are more senior in your career. Whatever the reason, it is a lie you tell yourself. You don’t want a boss that doesn’t develop you so why are you allowing your inner critic to deny your development? As a result of working on your professional development, you will stay relevant and keep your A-player title.
Lie Number Three
You never do anything right. If you are like most people you fear failure and for that reason, this can be one of the biggest lies you tell yourself. If you make a mistake at work that inner critic gets loud and reminds you of everything you’ve done wrong. For that reason, it is easy to see why the lie is believable. You wouldn’t keep working for a boss who told you the same. When your inner critic gets going with this lie remind yourself of all that you have accomplished.
Lie Number Four
You aren’t good enough. This is the lie your inner critic will tell you to stop you from a lot of thing. It will stop you from applying for that promotion. The inner critic will stop you from participating. It will also stop you from trying. If a boss were to tell you that you aren’t good enough you would fire them as your boss. So stop allowing your inner critic to hold you back. You were good enough to get where you are, you are good enough to get where you want to be.
Lie Number Five
People won’t like me. This is your inner critic setting you up for rejection because it will become a self-fulfilling prophecy. When you enter a new situation that inner critic will lie and tell you that you aren’t good enough, you aren’t supposed to be there and that people won’t like you. Therefore you won’t put your best self forward. Shut the inner critic up because everyone has something to contribute. Don’t deny yourself and the world the opportunity to get to know you.
Knowing the common lies we tell ourselves helps you recognize when you are being the victim of negative self-talk. When self-talk happens label it as such. As a result, you can start to quiet the inner critic and start enhancing your career progress.
