Hi, today I want to share an interesting topic, namely "Using resilience in the face of discomfort" , The main reason why I chose this topic is because many people choose to do things they like even though the level of difficulty is small, In order to survive, sometimes humans have to experience discomfort in order to find a stable position. In the world of psychology, self-efficacy is a very important concept. Simply put, self-efficacy is a person's belief or confidence in their ability to succeed in a particular situation or task.
This concept was popularized by psychologist Albert Bandura as part of his social cognitive theory.
Here are key points to understand the meaning of self-efficacy:
- Not about Skills, but Belief: Self-efficacy is not the same as the skills you possess. Someone might have all the necessary skills for a job, but if their self-efficacy is low, they might not be confident that they can perform well. Conversely, an individual with high self-efficacy will be confident that they can use their skills to achieve their goals.
- Task-Specific: Self-efficacy is usually specific to a particular task or domain. For example, you might have high self-efficacy in playing music, but low self-efficacy in public speaking.
- Not Self-Esteem: Self-efficacy is different from self-esteem. Self-esteem is a person's general evaluation of their self-worth, whereas self-efficacy is a specific belief about one's ability to perform a task. You can have high self-esteem in general, but low self-efficacy for a specific task.
- Influences Actions and Motivation: Self-efficacy plays a crucial role in determining:
- Behavioral Choices: Individuals with high self-efficacy tend to choose challenging tasks and view obstacles as challenges, not threats.
- Effort and Perseverance: They are more persistent and resilient in the face of difficulties. They will try harder and not give up easily.
- Thoughts and Emotions: High self-efficacy can reduce stress and anxiety when facing difficult tasks.
- Factors Shaping Self-Efficacy: According to Bandura, self-efficacy is formed from several sources, including:
- Mastery Experiences: Successfully completing a task in the past is the strongest source of self-efficacy.
- Vicarious Experiences: Witnessing others similar to us succeed in a task can also increase our belief that we can do it.
- Social Persuasion: Encouragement, praise, or positive words from others (e.g., teachers, mentors, or friends) can convince us that we have the ability to succeed.
- Physiological and Emotional States: Understanding and managing bodily responses (such as an increased heart rate) as signs of excitement or challenge, rather than anxiety, can influence self-efficacy.
Overall, self-efficacy is at the core of how an individual perceives and approaches challenges in life. This belief is not just about "self-confidence," but a profound conviction that influences one's motivation, behavior, and resilience in achieving their goals.
Self-efficacy plays a crucial role in the business world, for both entrepreneurs and employees. High self-efficacy can influence how a person faces challenges, makes decisions, and achieves success.
Here are some concrete examples of self-efficacy in the business world:
1. Self-Efficacy in Entrepreneurs
* Starting a New Business: A prospective entrepreneur with high self-efficacy will believe they have the ability to overcome unexpected challenges, such as raising capital, developing a product, and competing in a competitive market. This belief drives them to actually start a business, rather than just talk about it.
* Facing Failure: When their business experiences losses or fails to achieve targets, entrepreneurs with high self-efficacy will not give up easily. They will view failure as a learning experience and believe they can bounce back with a better strategy. For example, they will analyze mistakes, adjust their business model, and try again.
* Innovation and Risk-Taking: They have a strong belief in their ability to find new solutions (innovation) and take calculated risks. They are not afraid to try new things or step outside their comfort zone because they believe they can manage the consequences.
* Leading a Team: A startup founder with high self-efficacy in leadership will be confident in motivating, delegating tasks, and resolving conflicts within their team. This confidence is contagious to team members and creates a positive work environment.
2. Self-Efficacy in Employees
* Handling Difficult Projects: A project manager with high self-efficacy will accept a highly complex and challenging project assignment. They are confident that they have the skills, experience, and resources necessary to see it through to completion, even if there are obstacles in the way.
* Learning New Skills: In the ever-changing business world, employees must continuously learn. Employees with high self-efficacy will be proactive in taking new training or courses. They believe they are capable of mastering new skills, such as using the latest software or digital marketing techniques, which will, in turn, improve their performance.
* Giving Presentations: A marketing employee who is initially nervous about public speaking, but has high self-efficacy, will take on the challenge of presenting their work to the board of directors. Despite feeling anxious, he was confident that he could convey his ideas clearly and persuasively.
* Facing Criticism: When receiving criticism or negative feedback from a superior, employees with high self-efficacy will not take it as a personal attack. They see it as an opportunity for improvement and believe they can use the criticism to improve the quality of their work in the future.
* Salary and Promotion Negotiations: Employees who are confident in their value to the company will have high self-efficacy when negotiating for a higher salary or position. They believe that their abilities and contributions deserve better recognition and compensation.
3. Self-Efficacy in Sales and Marketing
* Salesperson: A salesperson with high self-efficacy will not be deterred by rejection from a potential customer. They are confident that they can close the next deal and will continue to persistently try new approaches.
* Marketer: A marketer tasked with launching a new product in a saturated market, with high self-efficacy, will be confident that their strategy will be successful. He is not easily swayed by others' pessimism and will continue to innovate in his marketing campaigns.
Essentially, self-efficacy in the business world is the belief that one can master a specific task or situation—whether it's leading a team, completing a project, selling a product, or facing failure—which then motivates them to take the necessary actions to achieve success.