Are you holding yourself back?

Nearly weekly, I hear of someone I know that has lost their job. Many in the same industry I work in. For me, it has forced me to take a good look at myself and reevaluate things I had once taken for granted. Am I working hard enough? Do I take it to the next level or am I just meeting the status quo? Am I doing what it takes to ensure I have a job tomorrow?

At first thought, the answer was, of course I am. But, as I have recently seen people close to me lose their jobs, I took a closer look and recognized the things I see as making or breaking my future.

• Recognizing and acknowledging my short comings- no one enjoys hearing about or seeing things you don’t excel at. But, when you put it into perspective, this is how you grow and become a better version of yourself. No one is perfect and as long as you walk around acting as though you are, you will never truly achieve your goals or know what you really are capable of. When you struggle with something, do it more, not less. How else can you polish your skills than to practice?

• Taking advantage of opportunities to enhance your skills- regardless if it is something you enjoy or not, don’t turn down opportunities to take on a challenge or participate in something out of your comfort zone. Taking initiative is not only a great way to show your boss you care, but a chance to better yourself and help you find things you may never have realized you were good at or had interest in.

• Communicating effectively- no one can read your mind and you can’t be angry at someone for not seeing your side if you don’t express it. You won’t get your way every time, but by expressing your feelings, you will be doing your part in a constructive way. No matter if it’s a personal or business relationship, communicating your position effectively is key.

• Maintaining objectivity- it is so easy to lose your ability to be objective when you lose sight of what you are trying to achieve. I have allowed my own objectivity to sway when my personal perspective clouded a business decision. It is such a hard thing to do, but necessary to grow and truly be fair to others who are affected by your decisions.

• Seeing value in others- don’t look at others’ success with resentment or jealousy. There are so many things we can learn from others if we allow ourselves to. Even if you don’t particularly like someone, they undoubtedly have a skill or a different perspective that can help you grow or enhance what you are working on. Take a step back and look at what they are contributing before you criticize what you think they arent doing.

At the end of the day, you have to ask yourself—what is it worth to you? Can you put aside petty issues and come together with your team to help your company get to the next level? Or are you satisfied with the status quo? Personally and professionally, some of the greatest things I have learned have been from the hardest times in my life. Ultimately, the best way I have found to help others is to strenghten your own skills and humble yourself first. Recognizing you don’t know everything and can stand to learn from those around you is a moment you know you are on the right track and quickly see things change around you for the better.