Acknowledging Your Successes, Big and Small
In today’s workplace, it’s easy to focus more on your failures than successes. Productivity is always a priority, so the big accomplishments and challenges tend to outweigh the day-to-day successes that we achieve all the time.
But if we only focus on the “big” successes, all of the work put into the “small” ones tends to get overlooked, and most often by ourselves. I can say from experience that it’s VERY easy to lose sight of the day-to-day productivity and accomplishments. But those small achievements add up!
In her article, Kathryn Kruse gives some tips on how to find your “stories of workplace heroism“. Kruse suggests that having these stories on hand will give you an edge if you’re interviewing, but we also feel that identifying these achievements will help boost your morale and feel better about your job. Positivity has been proven time and again to increase production and overall happiness both in and outside of the workplace.
Here are a few ways Kruse recommends for identifying some of these “small” achievements:
- Think small: This could be a specific event, or an overall trait. For example, I’m proud of the fact that I start each day by making a list of priorities, and most days I’m able to get through the whole list. While checking things off a list may seem small, it shows my organization and diligence, which are things to be proud of!
- Consider what makes you proud: This could also be a specific event, or an overall trait. Try to imagine what a trusted friend, partner or family member would say about you if they were marketing you for a job. It could be your patience, interpersonal skills, or even a time you successfully led a meeting. As long as it’s something that you pride yourself on, it’s the right answer.
- Start the habit: Consciously take time at the beginning and end of each day to consider your successes. Starting and ending your day with a positive mantra helps us all to remain optimistic. Getting into a habit of doing so will boost your positivity each day.
Photo by Steve Halama on Unsplash
Recent Posts
Feel Good Friday: Cheer
Happy Friday! You’ve made it all the way to the end of the week, and that’s worthy of a huge congratulations. So, congratulations! Today we’re featuring a few light-hearted sayings to provide a bit of cheer amidst these dreary times. Think of these affirmations as not...
Self-Care In Any Context
Continuing this week’s focus on addressing mental health concerns that arise in the workplace (or beyond, if you are someone who our present, unprecedented circumstances have caused to be out of work at present), today we’re considering self-care methodologies that...
Wednesday Wellness: Cheer
Happy Hump Day! At the week’s midpoint, we’re providing a bit of levity to help cheer you up. While the current, unprecedented circumstances are no joke, finding sources of joy and humor can help brighten up even the darkest of days. The act of smiling itself also...
Managing Mental Health Within Your Workplace and Beyond
These unprecedented times offer up unique challenges, no matter whether you’re working from home, in-person, or in between jobs--and each of those circumstances then produce their own obstacles. At present, you might be feeling like your situation is unmanageable,...
Monday Mood Booster: Cheer
Welcome back! We’re always here to be your cheerleaders. Especially now more than ever, during these uncertain times when we know many of you out there are navigating difficult situations due to COVID-19 and the shut downs it has caused. Remember that you’re not going...
Feel Good Friday: Hope
Happy Friday! The weekend is just around the bend, bringing with it a chance to relax and engage in fun fall activities. Know that it’s okay to find joy where you can find it, and let those happinesses comfort and buoy you, providing a bit of hope to help propel you...
Maintaining Workplace Team Positivity Throughout Each Day
As the week has proceeded, you’ve successfully navigated each and every obstacle that’s come your way. But we know that that can also be a draining experience--you might be feeling a bit less hopeful as the week draws to a close than you were at its start. Which is...
Cultivating Hope Within Any Workplace
It’s easy to feel overwhelmed in the face of obstacles, and we know that every workplace offers up challenges to navigate--but these are also opportunities that can spur personal and professional growth! The key is to figure out ways to move through challenging...
Monday Mood Booster: Hope
Welcome back! As October kicks off and autumn fully settles in, it can be easy to feel dreary. After all, the days are getting shorter. That’s why we figure it’s an excellent time for an extra bit of positivity! This week we’ll be focusing on mood boosters to keep up...
Feel Good Friday: Communicate
Happy Friday! You’ve made it through the week, successfully navigating every conversation and interaction that has come your way thanks to a combination of active listening and clearly, respectfully speaking. And as with any skill in life, it’s important to keep...
Listen And Think Before You Speak
We’ve said it before, and we’ll say it again: communication is key! Today we’re focusing on ways to improve your communication skills at work, making your conversations more effective and better avoiding conflict. Being mindful is also a necessary component in...
Feel Good Friday: Warm
Happy Friday! We hope you’ve had a wonderful time settling into this new season, experiencing the joys that fall can bring amidst its changes both in the workplace and beyond. Just as autumn offers up one last bit of warmth before the winter, this season also provides...
Getting Through The Warm Up Stage In A New Workplace
So, you properly warmed up before your interview and aced it. Now you’ve landed the position. What’s next? It’s never easy being the new kid in school, or the new guy at work. But don’t panic! There are ways to swiftly and easily warm up to a new workplace. Keep in...
Wednesday Wellness: Warm
Happy Hump Day! The middle of the week is a great time to reflect on how far you’ve come, and also a great time to engage in goal setting for how you’d like to further grow throughout the rest of your work week. While change might seem scary, and while it might seem...