Bouncing Back From Negativity

Showing confidence at work reassures your boss, team and clients that you have what it takes to get things done. Contrarily, a lack of self-assurance at the office can hurt your career by holding you back and making your manager second-guess any abilities. Regain your confidence and bounce back from situations that may dampen your gung-ho attitude.

A recent survey by Robert Half shows 89 percent of employees feel confident enough to ask for a raise, but just 54 percent planned to actually ask. These numbers indicate workers may not feel as self-assured as they think. Something could have happened to rattle someone's positive outlook at the office, or a setback may have shaken someone's steely attitude. Regain your confidence after dealing with these negative situations.

Bad Performance Review

You listen to your boss rattle off several things that went wrong over the past six months instead of hearing him praise your acumen, work ethic and sales abilities. You expect a good performance review, a pat on the back and then a raise. Instead, you feel shaken by a poor or average rating as you sign the letter acknowledging the review. Regain your confidence by seeing this negative review as an opportunity to improve your performance. Write down several actions to take to move forward in your professional development and reassure everyone you've understood what needs to happen next.

Saying You Cannot Handle a Project

Telling yourself that you cannot handle a big project means you've already lost. A lot of winning comes from an attitude of knowing you have the talent to succeed. Regain your confidence by relying on skills used to tackle previous work. You already have the competence, training and know-how to complete everything at work successfully. This is what your boss hired you to do. Prop yourself up by telling yourself you have what it takes.

Turned Down for a Raise

Do not take it personally when a manager turns you down for a raise. Sometimes, the budget simply may not be there in a down year. If not extra money, ask human resources if other benefits could compensate for a job well done. Next time the topic of a raise comes up, have a list of accomplishments ready for your boss to show him you deserve more money. Regain your confidence with concrete figures and a quiet determination to show you mean business during salary negotiations.

Dwelling on Mistakes

Dwelling on mistakes may spiral down into a confidence-killing attitude that holds you back from promotions, raises or higher-up jobs at other firms. Everyone makes mistakes, so own up to it, take responsibility for your actions, apologize to your supervisor and learn what to do about it. Similar to professional athletes who make mistakes on big plays, just focus on making the next play count. If you struck out the previous at bat, know that you have another opportunity to make a difference the next time you step up to the plate.

Bounce back and show resilience at work by realizing you have the expertise to perform day-to-day tasks with precision, poise and resolve. Regain your confidence with the same attitude showed in the interview that landed the job in the first place. That person resides in you, just waiting to appear again.

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Nancy Anderson • Sep 4, 2015

@Robert thanks for your comments. YES you are absolutely correct. Keep the interviewers attention at all times. If you see his/her eyes moving around the room or staring down at papers on their desk, etc. then it's probably a resounding no and you should consider cutting the interview. You can usually tell if the person is interested - even over the phone. You can hear it in their voice during a phone interview or you can see it on their face if you in the same room. And there's no harm in cutting the interview short if you feel that you are not a good fit for the position and the company. In that case you just thank them for their time and you exit. If you do feel that the interview went well, by all means you can ask if they feel you are a good fit. Watch their face for their reaction and you will know the next steps to take. Yes follow up with a handwritten thank you note - sent by snail mail. Sounds old-fashioned but they appreciate it and you all the more that you took the time to send it. Best of luck.

Patrick Z. • Sep 3, 2015

this article can be apply in our professional, personal lives.

ROBERT H. • Sep 3, 2015

And always use a cover letter and follow up with a Thank you note for the interview and their time. The End!

Continued: a good fit, then is probably is a yes.

Continued: it is probably a NO. If they look you in the eye and say, " we are still interviewing other candidates, it is a NO." If they say after interviewing you, I feel you have all the needed qualifications and would be a

Yes, kill the interview with kindness. Read the interviewers body language and imitate in a positive way. If they are smart they will pay attention to your body language also. Fight fire with fire. Listen until they are finished speaking. Keep eye contact when speaking. Always be respectful. If an interview is going South, end it. Don't torment yourself by sitting and taking more abuse. Also, I like to ask the last question when the interviewer states, " do you have any last questions about the job? I ask, "while we were interviewing today, do you feel I would be a good fit for your company? You can tell a lot by the intrrviewer body language and how they state the answer back to you. Usually they say, YES out of being put on the spot. If they ramble on or look down or around the room

SANDRA T. • Sep 3, 2015

thanks Nancy!!

Nancy Anderson • Sep 3, 2015

Thanks for the great comments. @Robert, you are absolutely correct that you should hold your ground but in a professional way. Never disagree with the interviewer. Always be respectful. @Sandra, criticism is tough to take at anytime but even harder if you have been searching for a job for a long time and then you get hit with something negative. Try to take that negative and turn it into a positive and then yes - move on. Best of luck to all of you.

Saying constructive criticism is such an oxymoron. It never feels constructive and it surely is a blow to an ego that thinks it has done everything exceptional well. Take feedback for what it is....listen don't speak or justify and move on from it. Seriously move on and do better. Berating yourself and letting it get to you slows down progress and you are defeated. Criticism is just what the word has in it critics those who see you and are judging your performance. Have a better show next 6 months! You can do it ;)

Pamela R. • Sep 3, 2015

Take constructive criticism as positive for grow

ROBERT H. • Sep 2, 2015

Don't take any insults from across the table when interviewing. Hold your ground, don't repeat yourself and be confident. You know your work better than a hiring manager or HR.

PAMELA L. • Sep 2, 2015

Good article.

Reynaldo M. • Sep 2, 2015

Nice read.

Mike D. • Sep 2, 2015

As an inveterate perfectionist, I often dwell too long on mistakes in an effort not to repeat them. That said, the only way never to make mistakes is not to try. I'd rather screw up occasionally than remain monolithic.

Donora B. • Sep 2, 2015

Awesome article!

Bouncing Back From Negativity

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