Pivot and Improve


If you have taken the test and checked your level of self-efficacy, the next step is to consolidate and identify areas where you need to improve. I recommend you to take the test here if you haven’t already. I am sure you will step into the process of knowing yourself better.
 
Here are some indications on how people with different levels of self-efficacy behave in a similar situation:
 
Individuals with higher levels of self-efficacy tend to:

  • undertake challenging tasks and embrace opportunities to master new skills
  • develop deep interest and commitment towards the tasks in which they participate
  • avoid repeating same mistakes
  •  recover quickly from setbacks and disappointments

Individuals with lower levels of self-efficacy in contrast:

  • avoid challenging and difficult tasks
  • concentrate on negative results and personal failings
  • quickly lose confidence in their personal abilities
  •  believe that difficult situations or tasks are beyond their capabilities

 
Let’s face it, majority of us struggle and work hard to earn our living except those who are born with a silver spoon. However, life does offer ample opportunities to each of us to be successful on our own accord. The journey is often long and pain-staking and demands strong levels of patience. But if you start with higher levels of self-efficacy, it will help you to come out strong in a multitude of situations.
 
The four key factors that contribute to the strength of the foundation are: 1) Personal accomplishments, 2) Role models, 3) Peer feedback, and 4) Attitude

Do you remember an event or an experience from your life which demanded extraordinary efforts and led to your eventual success? You may also remember the immediate feeling of ecstasy and how even sky doesn’t seem like a limit. The sense of confidence and invincibility might have been irresistible. Preserve those memories and let them fuel your self-efficacy at all points in future. Each new success (small or big), surely adds to your sense of core and helps you in difficult situations later. However, accidental successes are not much of value in improving self-efficacy. The results that you should preserve are those that were achieved by your own hard work.

Find your role model or mentor – someone you admire and by looking at him/her, you strengthen your belief in yourself. History is ripe with all kinds of successful people and you should be careful while picking a role model. Look for similarities in profession, area in which you want to excel, familial situation, economic context, etc. Albet Bandura, said that “seeing people similar to oneself succeed by sustained effort raises observer’s belief that they  too possess the capabilities to master comparable activities and  succeed”
 
Social persuasion forms another factor for self-efficacy. When your peers encourage you to perform a task and you follow up well, you get praise and positive feedback. Engage more with people who boost your confidence and help you limit your self-doubt. Use all this positive energy to boost your efforts into the tasks at hand.

Your own attitude is the last but not the least important factor. The way you perceive and interpret the things in your life hold the utmost importance. Always have something to look forward in your life and start cherishing the small successes.


There is a long way to go but if you maintain the consistence in your effort you are bound to be successful.

Cheers!!!