Cobalt news

Self-esteem in times of crisis

23/02/2009

Most of us attach a disproportionate slice of our identity to our work. So when ones profession finds itself on shaky ground, as the real estate industry most definitely has over the past 18 months, ones self-esteem naturally begins to wobble. So how do you keep your head while those around you are losing theirs in a state of apocalyptic gloom?

Psychiatrists have identified low self-esteem as the route of many evils, including depression, and a fundamental inability to act decisively or effectively. This is bad enough for individuals to deal with but when an entire company or industry starts to doubt its self-worth then it can be terminal.

The good news is that low self-esteem can be treated, and is best handled like a vitamin deficiency: with supplements rather than anything more fundamental. Low self-esteem is not a natural or healthy state for human beings to be in and it can be cured, although it does take a bit of effort and discipline. And the same applies to organisations as well as individuals. Here are a few pointers:

• Control the controllables. None of us can control the state of the economy, not as individuals at least, yet most of us worry about it. A good rule here is to only expend time and energy on the things you can actually have some influence over. You cannot control our income, house prices or what other people do. You can control what you think about, what you say and how you react to situations. ‘Control the controllables’ was the mantra that led England to Rugby World Cup victory…all those years ago.
• Remember the good times. At the height of the property boom we all knew how great we were. This is because we were all reminded of it daily by the deals we were making and the glowing appraisals. Right now though there are few cheering reminders out there, but harking back to better times and recreating the feelings of success will help you look more positively at where you are now and remind you what it’s like to succeed. As things have fallen, so can they rise again.
• List the things you are good at, not just in your work but in your personal life too. You will probably be surprised at how long the list is, and that will give you an instant lift. Keep it in your wallet so that the next time you feel about as useful as wet slipper, you can dig it out and give yourself a boost.
• Look after yourself. The natural reaction for many of us when things look bleak is to cheer ourselves up with an extra few glasses of Rioja, a curry and a few late nights, especially around pay-day. What will actually make us feel better about life is to do some exercise, eat well and get some sleep. It’s dull but it’s true.
• And finally compliment yourself at least 3 times a day and smile as often as possible. Build it in to your daily routine; even set reminders on your mobile phone if necessary.

All of the above will help you build up your self-esteem as an individual and can be applied just as effectively to your entire organisation: remind colleagues of past successes, list the company’s strengths, control the controllables within your organisation, compliment the people you work with or manage.

Positive behaviour is a differentiating factor, particularly in times like these: whatever success is out there to be had over the next few years will go to those individuals and organisations who are self-confident, prepared and alert enough to grasp it.

Finally remember that there are always opportunities out there, as recruiters in the real estate market we are seeing organisations hiring, albeit at lower levels that previously experienced.  Whether we are recruiting at Board level for those organisations requiring new talent to deal with the current challenges and opportunities, or working with candidate’s career management plans at senior and managerial levels, there are opportunities on a global basis for those prepared to adapt to the current market.