Self-Esteem Belongs In Business (Part I)
WHY IS SELF-ESTEEM IMPORTANT IN BUSINESS?
The term self-esteem is a bit overused, and not always used correctly. Sometimes it's equated to variations of confidence, arrogance and bravado. At other times it can be compared to an almost delusional view of one's self that does not reflect reality. As I researched information at the dawn of Intentional Professionals, I decided to do a deeper five into self-esteem and it lead me to the book "The Six Pillars of Self-Esteem" by Nathaniel Branden. The six pillars are six practices that, when done intentionally, create the product self-esteem and they are the practices of: conscious living, self-acceptance, self-responsibility, self-assertiveness, living purposefully and personal integrity. Subsequently, I used the book as one of the bases of my digital course Intentional Professionals Masterclass to undergird the module about the P in P. R.O.s which stands for the "Person". The author also writes an entire chapter about "Self-Esteem and Work" which is fascinating because this book was written in 1994 but his assessment of business and the changing economy could be read aloud today and one would assume it was a current reaction to AI and the future. In this Part I, I will briefly discuss three items that are very useful in business and can be directly linked to one's self-esteem:
Confidence
Resilience
Leadership
In the next Part II, I will discuss the importance of self-esteem in the marketplace as we move into the future of the information economy, technology, a changing work structure and artificial intelligence.
SELF-ESTEEM IS LINKED TO CONFIDENCE
Anyone in business knows that confidence is a key trait that leads to success. Though many equate self-esteem with confidence only, Branden's definition of self-esteem is self-efficacy + self-respect. Self-efficacy refers to "confidence in the face of life's challenges" while self-respect is "a sense of being worthy of happiness". The confidence found in self-efficacy speaks to a sense of trust in oneself having the tools and skills to appropriately handle whatever comes, which is crucial in business, especially as an owner. Running a business as a solo entrepreneur is the ultimate test in this respect because, as in life, business is a series of problems to be solved. When problems are presented that are unfamiliar or just plain overwhelming, a healthy level of self-esteem is required to adequately assess and find solutions without dismantling one's identity with crippling insecurities. Healthy self-esteem will also make it easier for one to take risks that have the potential to create more growth and success over time.
SELF-ESTEEM IS LINKED TO RESILIENCE
Resilience becomes crucially important after some of those risks because not all of them pay off handsomely. Healthy self-esteem can also help one recognize that a failed attempt does not make them a failure. Instead, they can recognize a failure as an opportunity to learn and grow beyond where they are. If you research any successful person in business, you will find stories of ideas, companies and products that failed. However, their resilience gave them the insight to find the root cause(s) of the failure and make the adjustments necessary for it to become a breakthrough. This happens many times and will continue to happen as long as we engage with business and life, alike. Resilience can also inspire others to buy-in and follow the vision of those who do not give up in the face of adversity. As the saying goes: "fall down seven times, get up eight".
SELF-ESTEEM IS LINKED TO LEADERSHIP
Lastly, leadership is impossible without self-esteem. The finer point is: what kind of leadership do you want to employ? I have served under and observed very insecure leaders that may have been effective in getting results but they were achieved because of fear, coercion or force. If their teams had the choice, they likely wouldn't choose to serve under that individual's brand of leadership. Unfortunately, not every leader cares whether their team wants to be there or believes in the vision. Others simply are oblivious and mistake silence for agreement. A leader with healthy self-esteem would not feel threatened by the potential of negative feedback or constructive criticism. It does not feel good to hear a team member express fear, doubt or disbelief towards them, but because of their resilience, they will likely use that feedback as an opportunity to learn and grow into a better leader for that team. This can have the positive affect of building trust that evolves into loyalty, if practiced consistently and thoughtfully.
Behind the scenes, self-esteem is impacting business and it is our individual responsibility to be accountable for how we show up. It also takes practice and support to continue to challenge ourselves and gain the self-awareness necessary to continuously improve. Intentional Professionals can assist with support through Consulting Services as well as Digital Courses available at www.intentionalpros.com when you need us.
Sincerely,
-M