We come across the inner critic in a number of ways, self-limiting beliefs, second guessing, and the bestower of generous portions of doubt. Thankfully, the inner critic can be faced off. The strategies below can help turn the tables on the inner critic and reframe your internal dialogue into a nurturing, and constructive friend. There are some strategies to help with this.
1. Accept and own your expertise - think about what you know through study and experience then celebrate and be proud of it.
2. Use your tools - this is about, your standards, presentation, how you show up your business image and personal brand.
3. Recall your ‘ zone of genius’ – where have you shone in your area of expertise? Have clients/employers or colleagues noted your attributes and gifts and the way you delivered a project? You may have skills, attributes and knowledge that show up in how you work and your results. Clients may have noticed and commented on your approach. When self-doubt creeps in, recall this feedback and acknowledge that this comes from a place of genuine observation and evaluation.
4. Have a safety bubble – a space to openly reflect share, get alternative perspectives and develop shared insights. This can create a ring of steel around an instinctive tendency to entertain the inner critic. Your safety bubble should be made of people that have experience, empathy and expertise in business or leadership and understand the peaks and flows.
5. Manage your expectations - when you fall short of your standards, you won’t like it, but human beings sometimes make mistakes. We can’t avoid making mistakes. When you do, manage the creeping voice of doubt and remind yourself that you can do better but you will never be free from making mistakes as long as you’re striving, developing and alive! Don’t expect not to make a mistake , even when you are dedicated and diligent. The converse is also true, don’t accept regular mistakes as par for the course if you want to be seen as a quality service provider.
6. Focus on developing a growth mindset – this mindset understands that ideas, starts as a seed, germinate then flower and it invests in growth activities. It also accepts that you may have periods of slow growth or no growth but that’s part of the process. You wouldn’t despise a daffodil in bud form, so don’t hate your growth stage. The opposite of growth is stagnation.
7. Self-care routine – do what needs to be done to make you feel relaxed. Be intentional about self-care, leisure and rest. It’s vital to your success to actively nourish your mind body and soul.
8. Revisit your mindset – consider whether it is faith or fear governing your thought process? Acting out of fear will always lead to self-sabotage. Acting positively in faith is risky but brings huge rewards, or an invaluable opportunity for learning.
If you want some help slaying your inner critic and you think you’d benefit from peer support, why not apply to join our group discovering dynamism here https://www.meetup.com/discovering-dynamism/members/.
Alternatively find out other ways DDC can help at info@dynamicdevelopmentconsulting.co.uk.
