Especially in a new job, it can be natural to question your abilities. If you feel you aren't performing as well as you could at work, there are ways you can improve your overall confidence in your abilities with some processing, performance evaluation and confident-building skills. Before assuming you aren't good at your job, it can help to realize the signs of poor performance and discover ways you can feel better about your work.

In this article, we explain why it's important to be good at your job, share some signs to look for that may indicate you're not performing well at work and provide some steps you can take to feel better about your work performance.

Why is it important to be good at your job?

It's important to be good at your job because your work performance can directly impact how satisfied you are in your job and personal life. Because poor work performance can cause stress and low productivity, consider ways you can increase your performance at work so you can experience things like a great professional relationship with coworkers and managers, more promotion opportunities, a high level of output and a positive work-life balance.If you're good at your job and therefore happier at work, you may also realize fewer mistakes, be more creative and better at solving problems, feel more motivated and learn new material faster.

5 signs you might not be doing well in your job

It's possible to have a negative impression of your work performance, but actually be doing well. If you want to know if you're good at your job, consider these signs that your performance may not be up to par so you can work on improving:

1. Performance plan

One of the strongest indicators that you aren't doing well at work is if your supervisor or manager issues a performance plan. A performance plan may explain what workplace habits you should change so you can continue to be a valuable part of the team. However, keep in mind that a performance plan doesn't mean you can't improve; instead, explore ways you can accept your manager's feedback and actively work on making adjustments.

2. Inability to solve a problem

You may not be doing well in your job if you find it difficult to solve common problems for your position. Review if your coworkers in the same position have a history of coming up with solutions to improve the workforce or help with efficiency in the workplace. If you consistently check in with your manager as a seasoned employee before taking the next step in your task or project, it could mean that you aren't performing as your manager may expect you to.You could always get better at solving problems by observing your coworkers, asking your manager for feedback, gaining a more thorough understanding of the processes and procedures at work and investing more time in working on shared projects.

3. Bypassed for promotion

If a manager doesn't consider you for a promotion, it could be an indicator that you aren't doing well at work, at least compared to your coworkers. Before assuming that your lack of promotional opportunities is because of performance, consider asking your hiring manager for insight. They may be able to give you constructive feedback or provide you with some understanding of how promotions work.

4. Errors in your work

While mistakes can happen, if you find that you're making a lot of them, it may be time to ask your coworkers or managers what you can do to improve or consider another career path. Mistakes may not reflect on your ability to do a great job, but they can indicate that your work ethic may be better served in another field that suits your interests and abilities more.

Read more: Steps To Take After Making Mistakes at Work

5. Low productivity

Another sign that you have improvements to make in your performance is low productivity. Low productivity can be the result of not understanding the work, having poor teamwork abilities or a lack of confidence. If you can find the reason for the low productivity, you are more likely to be able to solve it, but if it's consistent, examine if this is the right position for you.

How to feel better about how you're performing at work

Confidence in your work usually comes alongside increased performance. Consider these steps so you can feel better about how good you are at your job:

1. Portray confidence

A simple shift in how you present yourself can help you and others see you as more confident. With confidence in your abilities, you are more likely to succeed in your career and help others feel more comfortable approaching you for help with a project or task. You can increase your confidence at work by dressing professionally, setting SMART goals, learning from your mistakes and focusing on the strengths you contribute to the workplace.

Read more: 11 Tips for Improving Confidence at Work

2. Write a list of your accomplishments

Keeping a list of the accomplishments you've realized at work can help you feel better about your performance. Think about how your actions have directly contributed to a positive workplace, made a difference in a project or led to increased sales. You may just need a reminder of your accomplishments or validation that you're doing a good job. Remain positive because your accomplishments can also help you secure a new position if you're looking for one.

3. Understand what success means to you

If you feel you aren't performing well, it may be time to reevaluate what success means to you. Consider how you define success and you may realize that you're doing a great job. It's important to remain aware of your ultimate goals and what success looks like for you so you can perform a complete evaluation of your performance and feel satisfied with it.

4. Readjust your expectations

You may feel better about your performance if you adjust your expectations to something more reasonable or what a manager has communicated that they expect from you. Part of the reason you may feel your performance is inadequate may be because you've set expectations for yourself that are unrealistic or far beyond what your position entails. Review your job description and any feedback you've received from your manager and you may find that your confidence increases and you feel better about your work.

Read more: 10 Expectations Employers Have for Employees

5. Ask for feedback from those you trust

Review your performance with a manager or coworker you trust who's familiar with your work to see if they have any feedback they can provide about your performance. You may feel better about your work if you hear from others that they think you're doing a great job. If they have constructive feedback for you, you can immediately put a plan into action so you can improve and feel more satisfied with your output.

6. Avoid comparing your performance to others

Every coworker you have was hired for a specific reason. It could be because of their education, work portfolio or unique experience and skills, so comparing yourself to them may not be the best course of action if you want to feel confident in your work. Realize that your manager added you to the team because of the values and attributes you bring to the organization, especially compared to other candidates. Focus more on your performance versus comparing how your work to others in the office.

7. Evaluate any personal issues

One other way to feel better about your work performance is by evaluating any personal issues that may be hindering your work or changing your perception of your abilities. Sometimes, not having the appropriate work-life balance can negatively affect your job satisfaction, which can impact how you feel about your performance. It's important to understand if what you're going through outside of work is having a lasting effect on how you feel while you're at work.

Related Posts

Overcome Indecision

Confidence can help you when seeking success in the workplace. However, some people may think, "I have no idea what I'm doing," and this feeling…

Meet the Team

Companies often introduce their staff members on their websites with a page called "Meet the Team." The page allows users to connect to employees, which…

One of the most enjoyable steps in starting your own business is the opportunity to create something of your own - and give it a…

We have reached a point in the world where, in truth, all available means of advertising or promotion have already been used. People are busy,…

Getting publicity these days is easier than ever before. This is thanks to easy access to the Internet and various types of social media. Most…