Written by: Michelle Davidson  |  April 25, 2024

From Panic to Power: How to Turn a Tough Task into a Learning Opportunity

In times of economic volatility, you may find yourself doing things that are outside of your skill set. That recently happened to me. I took on a task that I was ill-equipped for, and I learned some hard lessons about how I show up when I feel incompetent.

The good news is I completed the job without loss of life or limb. Plus, I learned two lessons that I will apply in future situations that will help me navigate my feelings of incompetence:

• Procrastination is our worst enemy. The longer I put off the task, the more I imagined how things would go wrong. As usual, my imagination was far worse than the reality. What I thought would be seven days of a slow-moving trainwreck turned out to be a three-hour struggle over two days.

• Snafus are larger than they appear. When you feel confident, obstacles become opportunities to overcome.Your initial reaction: “I got this.” On the other hand, if you lack confidence, unexpected curveballs may seem more challenging and intimidating. This is where coping strategies can come to the rescue. Discover the methods that work for you and use them regularly.

You learn a lot about yourself when you do a task in the “what I’m terrible at” category. Next time, I will show up with a different toolbox.

Listen: The Next Step When You Don’t Know What to Do

Now Read This:

• What My Dad Taught Me About Success
• Strategic Sounding Boards Give Real-World Advice for When the Rubber Meets the Road

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.