Self-efficacy is the extent to which you believe you can complete tasks and reach goals. It’s one of the very few concepts from my MBA that both resonated and has been replicated repeatedly in my work in managing and leading people. That’s because it’s so simple and effective and applicable to every aspect of our life, both personal and professional.
The concept was coined by Albert Bandura, a psychologist and Professor at Stanford University, and basically it goes like this:
Whether or not we are good at something is impacted by the extent to which we believe we can do it.
And…
The more we do it (or try to do it) the better we get at it and therefore the more likely we are to achieve success.
In other words, practice makes perfect AND makes us more willing to keep trying.
If there’s something you’ve been wanting to try, or you’ve been motivated to #beboldforchange, I encourage you try it. You might be scared. You might have never done something like that before. Do it anyway.
As Martin Luther King Jr. said, “Take the first step in faith. You don’t have to see the whole staircase; just take the first step.”
It might seem impossible, you might stumble at first, but you will get there.
My rescue Beagle, Mr Peanut, reminded me that today on our walk. He wanted to go where I was going but he didn’t want to step down off the edge, to take the plunge so to speak. But after taking a while to build up the courage… he did it! He jumped! And then… he crashed!! Not pretty. But he learned from it. And the good news is he stepped down that very same spot not long after and did it perfectly. Self-efficacy in action!
Thankyou to everyone who has been in touch to about my post yesterday about the ignorant Senator and all your offers of support. My resolve is strong. We have some work to do to clearly communicate what is appropriate behaviour for our political and business leaders in 2017. But do it we will! #IWD365
Again… If you feel Abetz’s attitude towards Australian women is undeserved and unacceptable, I do encourage you to contact him directly via the contact details on his official website. #IWD365
Yours, still practicing,
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