As someone who has had to live with the constant feeling of incompetence in the work place, I feel that it can be a daunting experience. Whether it’s due to a boss or coworker making you feel that way, the impact it can have — even on the most confident of employees — can be devastating.
When a boss makes you feel inadequate or incompetent in the workplace, it can be difficult to shake the feeling and can leave you feeling powerless and almost worthless. Not only can it have a detrimental impact on your performance, but it can also have a huge effect on your mental and physical well-being.
So what can be done to combat this situation? Firstly, it is important to talk about it. Although it can be intimidating to confront a boss, it is important to explain why you feel uncomfortable and let them know that their words and behaviour are not acceptable. Additionally, it might be a good idea to enlist the support of colleagues who share the same sentiment. Not only will it help alleviate the pressure from the situation, but it will also allow other employees to voice their concerns.
The next step to dealing with an unsupportive boss is to focus on your job. It is easy to get side-tracked and feel discouraged by the thought of not meeting the expectations of your higher-ups, but it is essential to remind yourself why you took the job in the first place. Remind yourself that you have a skill set and potential. By focusing on the job and putting in your full effort, this can often go a long way in changing perceptions.
Finally, it is important to remember that feeling incompetent at times is completely natural, and it is okay to ask for help and guidance when needed. By reaching out to colleagues and supervisors, it can be a great way to gain a better understanding of the tasks you are facing.
In the workplace, feeling like you are not meeting expectations or feeling incompetent is an all too common experience. Not only can it be detrimental to those involved, but it can often lead to a lack of productivity and motivation. However, by confronting the situations head on, looking at other sources of support and focussing on the job at hand, it is possible to create a better work environment, and prove that you do have competence and can be successful in any role.