We all have those moments at work. The ones where you can’t really believe the battle you’re facing, shocked by the fact that everyone can’t simply operate as a team or simply faced with the unknown. Whatever that challenge might be, it happens – whether you win or lose – all that matters is how you handle it with grace along the way. Keeping your head high and getting through it as best you can always wins; giving up and walking away is not an option. From interpersonal conflicts to navigating a new skill, here are a few steps for getting through a tough challenge at work.
4 Steps for Getting Through a Work Challenge with Ease
#1. Face your fear. Work challenges can come in many forms, but often the most difficult is when you’re asked to work on something totally new. Perhaps you have to learn a new computer program or understand a concept that you’ve never previously faced. Whatever it is – don’t freak out – do a little research and ask around. Remind yourself that you’re a smart cookie – and you can conquer anything, including some new work projects.
#2. Plan ahead. A huge amount of work anxiety is often formed around feelings of being overwhelmed or overloaded with too many tasks. Sit down, make a list and figure out what will need to be accomplished in order of priority – take your time and think it through! Having a road map for what you need to accomplish will make it all seem doable.
#3. Learn from your own experiences. Most of us are simply muddling through it all, learning as we go along and you are no different. You’re not always going to succeed at each and every task – and that is OK. The thing is – you have to be willing and understanding of constructive feedback – it will help you grow and become a more knowledgeable and well-rounded employee in the long run. If you don’t get it right the first time, that’s OK – you’re human. Learn from the experience and try, try again.
#4. Look back on what’s worked and what hasn’t. Having an understanding of how you need to approach a project can be a huge help in facing the work that needs to be done. Take a look at past projects that are related (or even unrelated) to gain inspiration and give your mind a kickstart for laying out a plan. Paying attention to the things that have worked in the past can help move the project forward on the right foot.
Knowing what you’re dealing with is have the battle when you’re faced with a tough challenge at work so don’t be afraid to ask loads of questions to get to a place of understanding. Have you ever faced a tough situation at work? What do you wish you had done differently and what was successful?
