Welcome to the Stop Sabotaging Your Success podcast, episode one hundred and ten. I’m your host, Cindy Esliger. This is the podcast focusing on what we can do today to take control of our careers and overcome the inevitable barriers to success that we encounter along the way. 

Our patterns of behavior and decision-making play a pivotal role in shaping not only the trajectory of our careers, but the course of our lives. These patterns, often subtle and ingrained, have the power to influence our outcomes and determine the pace of our journey. Recognizing and understanding these patterns is a crucial step toward unlocking the potential possibilities that lie ahead, enabling us to propel our careers forward and build confidence in our ability to navigate the complexities of the workplace. 

In this episode, we explore the significance of our own patterns of behavior, how we make decisions, and how these habits can influence the results we achieve. By identifying some common limiting behavior patterns, we can learn to break free of these self-imposed constraints in order to seize the opportunities available and boost our confidence in our abilities to create the career we desire. 

Our patterns of behavior are formed through a combination of genetics, upbringing, personal experiences, and environmental influences. They become deeply ingrained over time, shaping our responses to various stimuli and molding our approach to challenges. 

The significance of noticing these patterns lies in the profound impact they have on our outcomes. Positive patterns can lead to success, personal growth, and fulfillment, while limiting patterns may hinder progress and contribute to stagnation. By becoming aware of these patterns, we gain valuable insights into the forces that drive our actions, allowing us to make more informed and intentional choices. 

Recognizing our patterns opens the door to a world of possibilities. When we understand how our habits and decision-making processes operate, we gain the ability to anticipate what might come next. This foresight empowers us to make choices that align with our goals and values, steering us towards a future rich with promise.

The relationship between patterns and possibilities is dynamic and transformative. Instead of being confined by habitual responses, we can leverage our understanding of our own patterns to explore alternative paths and novel solutions. This shift in perspective expands our horizons and encourages the mindset of continuous learning and adaptation. 

Armed with the knowledge of our behavior patterns, we can intentionally propel ourselves forward towards growth and success. This involves harnessing the positive aspects of our habits while actively working to overcome self-imposed constraints. By aligning our decisions with our long-term goals and aspirations, we create the momentum that propels us toward a more exciting future. 

One of the most profound impacts of recognizing our patterns is the boost it provides to our confidence. As we gain insights into the drivers of our behavior, we develop a deeper understanding of ourselves. This self-awareness is a cornerstone of confidence, as it enables us to navigate challenges with a greater sense of assurance and purpose. 

Noticing our own behavioral and decision-making patterns plays a crucial role in shaping our professional journeys. Our habits and thought processes, often developed unconsciously, significantly influence the direction our careers can take. 

Our behaviors and decisions in the workplace are guided by a complex interplay of past experiences, cultural norms, and personal beliefs. These factors can lead to the formation of habits that might not always serve our best interests or align with what we want in our careers. For example, a tendency to avoid confrontation or the habit of downplaying our achievements can limit our visibility and potential for advancement. Recognizing these patterns is the first step toward initiating positive change. 

Self-awareness allows us to understand our strengths, weaknesses, and the underlying motives behind our actions. This understanding is pivotal for career development, as it enables us to make informed decisions that better align with our long-term goals. 

As women, we commonly exhibit two limiting patterns in the workplace: 

1. Imposter Syndrome: where we doubt that we truly earned our accomplishments and fear being exposed as a fraud, which can prevent us from applying for promotions or speaking up in meetings.
2. Superwoman Syndrome: where we feel that we must do it all and do it perfectly, which can actually negatively impact our performance and lead to burnout. 

Recognizing these patterns is vital for challenging and overcoming them. By becoming more self-aware, seeking support, and embracing a growth mindset, we can identify and overcome these self-imposed limitations. 

Recognizing and understanding our patterns is not merely an exercise in self-improvement; it’s a strategic imperative for career advancement. This understanding can guide us through the complexities of the workplace and enable us to identify and seize opportunities by embracing change and cultivating adaptability. The journey towards this realization and its application, however, requires confronting our inherent resistance to change, a task easier said than done. 

Our behavioral and decision-making patterns are like the software running in the background of our professional lives. They influence how we respond to challenges, interact with colleagues, manage stress, and even how we perceive and seize the available opportunities. Unfortunately, much like outdated software, some of these patterns can hinder our progress, making us resistant to change and less adaptable. By critically examining our own patterns, we can begin to rewrite the code, enabling us to be more flexible and responsive to the dynamic nature of our workplace.

Humans are creatures of habit. We find comfort in routine and predictability, which is why change can often be met with resistance. This resistance is not just a personal quirk, but a widely observed phenomenon that can manifest in various ways, such as denial, avoidance, or even hostility toward new ideas or new processes. In a professional context, this resistance can be a significant barrier to career advancement as it stifles innovation, adaptability, and the willingness to take risks – all essential qualities to get ahead in a professional environment. 

The first step in overcoming this resistance is understanding its origins. Our resistance to change is often rooted in fear – fear of the unknown, fear of failure, or even fear of success. Recognizing these fears allows us to address them directly, whether through seeking support, gathering more information, or simply allowing ourselves to experience the discomfort of stepping out of our comfort zones. This process of understanding and confronting our fear is pivotal in transitioning from a state of resistance to one of acceptance and readiness for change. 

To thrive in a dynamic professional environment, embracing change is not enough; we must also cultivate adaptability. This means developing the ability to adjust to new conditions quickly, a skill that can be honed through deliberate practice and intentional mindset shifts. It involves staying curious, being open to learning new things, and being willing to unlearn and relearn. It also means building our resilience to the inevitable setbacks and viewing failures as stepping stones rather than roadblocks. 

Here are three strategies for enhancing our adaptability: 

1. Continuous Learning: Keeping your skills current is a proactive approach that can not only make adapting to change easier, but will also position you as a valuable asset within your organization. 
2. Flexibility in Planning: While having goals is essential, being too rigid in how you plan to achieve them can be a hindrance. Learn to adjust your plans based on new information or circumstances, and embrace the iterative process of planning, executing, reviewing, and adjusting. 
3. Developing Emotional Intelligence: Understanding and managing your emotions, as well as empathizing with others, can significantly enhance your ability to adapt to changing situations. It improves communication and facilitates better handling of the interpersonal aspects of change, which, as we all know, can be the most challenging part. 

The combination of recognizing our patterns, overcoming our inherent resistance to change, and cultivating adaptability will help us identify and seize career opportunities. These opportunities often arise during times of change and by being adaptable, we can position ourselves to take advantage of these moments. Whether it’s a shift in market trends, technological advancements, or organizational restructuring, those who are prepared to embrace change and adapt are the ones who will thrive. And you want to be one of those people. 

Adaptability also means being proactive about creating opportunities. It involves identifying gaps or needs within an organization or industry and proposing innovative solutions. Things can be unpredictable, but the ability to recognize and adjust our behavioral and decision-making patterns can be used to our advantage. By embracing these strategies, we can turn the challenges we face into stepping stones toward our personal and professional growth, seizing opportunities that may lie ahead with confidence and agility.

Building self-confidence is a transformative journey that involves having a deep understanding of our own behavioral patterns and a genuine acknowledgement of our accomplishments. This process is fundamental not only for personal growth, but also for projecting a level of self-assurance that can significantly impact our professional trajectory. 

Our behaviors and actions are often the reflections of our internal beliefs and attitudes. Positive behavioral patterns, such as resilience in the face of challenges, consistent effort towards our goals, effective communication, and empathy towards others serve as the building blocks of self-confidence. These behaviors are indicative of a proactive approach to life’s challenges and a positive outlook on our abilities. 

Recognizing these patterns is essential because it allows us to identify the strengths we possess and understand the strategies that have worked for us in the past. This recognition reinforces our belief in our ability to navigate future obstacles and not get tripped up.

One common hurdle in building self-confidence is the tendency to dismiss or diminish what we’ve achieved. It may come off as self-deprecating, but it goes deeper than that. It stems from a variety of reasons, including societal norms, fear of appearing arrogant, or a personal inclination toward focusing on areas of improvement rather than celebrating our successes. However, acknowledging our past achievements is crucial for building self-confidence as it serves as tangible evidence of our capabilities and the positive outcomes of our efforts.

When we take the time to reflect on and celebrate our accomplishments, no matter how small, we reinforce the positive feedback loop that boosts our self-esteem., This acknowledgement might be simply allowing ourselves a moment of pride and satisfaction for a job well done. It doesn’t have to be anything big or elaborate, and it doesn’t even need to be public. 

Self-compassion is also a critical component of building self-confidence. It involves treating ourselves with kindness and understanding when we face setbacks or when we don’t meet our own expectations. By practicing self-compassion, we acknowledge that missteps are part of the growth process and not an indication of our worth or abilities. This mindset fosters a healthy relationship with failure and allows us to bounce back with more ease. 

It’s about shifting our focus from what we perceive as lacking to what we have successfully mastered. It’s understanding that our worth is not tied to perfection, but to the effort we put forth, as well as the decisions we’ve made and the positive behaviors we’ve exhibited. Embracing this approach to self-confidence can lead to a more assertive presence, one that is capable of inspiring others to also believe in us, enabling us to achieve greater success. 

Cultivating pattern recognition skills in our behaviors and decision-making processes is not just a short-term strategy for navigating the complexities in the workplace; it’s a foundational element for long-term career success. Recognizing these patterns enables us to identify both limiting habits and positive behaviors, adjust our course of action, and seize opportunities that align with the direction we want our careers to take. This capability, developed through consistent practice and self-reflection, can have profound long-term impacts on our ability and the speed at which we can propel our careers forward.

At the core of pattern recognition is the understanding that our behaviors and decisions are not random, but influenced by a complex web of past experiences, beliefs, and emotions. By analyzing these patterns, we can pinpoint which behaviors have historically led us toward or away from our goals. This insight is crucial for adapting our strategies in pursuit of career advancement. 

A significant obstacle many face in their professional growth is resistance to change, often rooted in fear or finding comfort in the familiar, whether we like the status quo or not. Recognizing this pattern of resistance allows us to confront it directly, understanding that change is not just inevitable, but a gateway to new opportunities. Cultivating adaptability and resilience in the face of change is essential for those looking to not just survive but thrive in the workplace. 

The ability to adapt, to pivot in response to the shifting landscapes of our professional environments, is a direct outcome of recognizing our behavioral patterns, especially our responses to change. Adaptability is fueled by continuous learning, flexibility in planning, emotional intelligence, and cultivating a diverse support network. These components work together enabling us to navigate through uncertainty and leverage those opportunities that may arise so they work to our advantage.

Pattern recognition also empowers us to be proactive in identifying and creating opportunities for ourselves. By recognizing the needs of our organizations, we can fill gaps and position ourselves as indispensable assets. This proactive approach not only showcases our value, but also our commitment to personal and professional growth. 

The long-term impact of consistently cultivating pattern recognition skills lies in the continuous alignment of our actions with our career goals. As we become more adept at identifying beneficial patterns and modifying those limiting ones, we enhance our ability to make strategic decisions and respond effectively to change. This heightened sense of awareness and adaptability attracts success and can be just what we need to get out of a professional rut. 

The ability to recognize and adjust our own patterns of behavior allows us to overcome inherent resistances, embrace change, and proactively create the opportunities we’re looking for. The consistent application of these strategies enhances our adaptability, setting a foundation for sustained success and fulfillment in our professional journeys. 

And that’s it for this episode of Stop Sabotaging Your Success. Remember to download your Guide to Noticing Your Patterns at cindyesliger.com/podcast, episode one hundred and ten.

Thank you to our producer, Alex Hochhausen and everyone at Astronomic Audio. Get in touch, I’m on Instagram @cindyesliger and my email address is info@cindyesliger.com.

If you enjoy listening to this podcast, you have to come check out The Confidence Collective. It’s my monthly coaching program where we dig a little deeper into what’s holding you back in your career, and we find the workarounds. We help you overcome the barriers and create the career you want. Join me over at cindyesliger.com/join. I’d love to have you join me in The Confidence Collective. 

Until next week, I’m Cindy Esliger. Thanks for listening.