Recognizing Your Worth as High Performers

The Struggle with Self-Recognition

The other day, I found myself in a meeting where my colleagues were discussing my work. They offered such kind words about my contributions, praising the value I bring to the table. Yet, if I'm being honest, my instinct was to turn off my camera and hide under my desk. Don't get me wrong, it's not that I don't appreciate the recognition, but I often feel like I’m merely meeting the bare minimum. Is it possible my expectations for myself are unreasonably high?

The Weight of Accolades

When I was promoted to a position I worked very hard to get, I received an overwhelming amount of praise. People were saying, "Dana, they are so impressed with your work ethic!" and "You should have been promoted sooner!" But all I could think about, was how looking back, those compliments felt foreign. All I could think was..."Are you talking about me?" I constantly evaluate myself, and anytime I receive a compliment, it sends me into a spiral of self-doubt. I can’t help but question if they truly understand the level of effort it took or the internal struggles where I question my abilities.

The Hidden Truth of High Performance

As a high performer, people tend to think I have everything figured out. They assume confidence comes naturally to me. But let’s be real...it doesn’t! I rely heavily on structures and systems to stay organized, an accumulation of strategies developed over years. For instance, if I'm being completely honest, my organization system is about 40% Outlook reminders, 30% lists and sticky notes, 20% on asking for others' reminders, and honestly, the remaining 10% is just sheer panic over what I might forget!

What most don’t see are the struggles...conversations rehearsed over and over, learning from mistakes, questions I had to ask, and the constant help from my team. While others see competence, I see the hours of work that allowed for that competence. Actually, I often worry. I worry I'm not doing enough for my team and that someone else could step into my shoes and do better. It's a relentless pressure that most high-achievers face.

The truth is, high-performing individuals aren’t void of uncertainty. We just recognize the myriad of strategies we employ to keep ourselves on track amidst the chaos. So, the next time you hear a compliment, don’t shy away from it; recognize the effort that went into reaching that point. Acknowledge your work, embrace your commitment, and remember: everyone might see the polished exterior, but you know the journey it took to get there!

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