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Help me get over my fear of inadequateness in workplace

the_dude — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 08:48:52 -0800

I'm having trouble adjusting to an environment where everyone around me seems to be leaps and bounds more advanced. I'm working at a small tech company (with big clients). It's very technically oriented, not like a consulting firm, we just develop stuff all the time. I'm a recent hire; kind of made my way in through luck and they seemed to like some of the stuff I used to work on.

What my problem is that although I'm fairly competent (at least passable) in my field, I feel like my co-workers are just geniuses that seem to be able to do anything faster or better than I can. And it has been literally rendering me pretty much dysfunctional lately.

For example, I come up with an idea that we can all work on. Start researching for it, talk to my co-workers about it. And before I can actually start doing anything about it, like a day later, one of my co-workers excitedly show up at my desk, showing off what he did with my idea; he just implemented it in the time it took me to get my head around some of the technicalities. Don't get me wrong; I'm not jealous or mad and I have *no* hard feelings towards that guy or anything.

Stuff like this happens just keeps happening. And I feel growingly incompetent.

What it makes me feel like is just being unable to start doing anything on my own. It's to a point that I feel like if I embark on something either it's going to be way too late compared to others or just it's going to fail (and them somebody will have to finish it up).

I do not want to give up what I am doing and I know I'm in a place where I had been working for a good part of my life. I can't let this go. However, I need some help to get around my fears. Or whatever you call them.

How can I stop fearing the new hire?

jacobjacobs — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 16:14:31 -0800

I'm working +60 hour weeks, but I'm resistant to my employer hiring someone to help b/c I'm afraid they'll usurp my value within the company. How can I get over this fear? I realize this may be classic fear of failure conundrum. I have too much work to do, but I'm afraid a new kid on the block will come and "steal my thunder" within the company. That my lack of communication skills will come to front, that 6 months from now, this guy will be my boss and I will be a tool.

I am an UI designer and damn good by most accounts. I suppose my confidence is not where it needs to be. I try to perfectly do everything for everyone to perhaps gain that confidence. My verbal communication skills are just not there and I'm afraid a more extroverted version of myself will demote my impactin the company. Or perhaps they'll just be all around better and I'll come out looking like a schmuck.

How can I snap out of this self-defeating outlook, and perhaps help recruit an employee and make my life better?

I'm sure there's an easy solution (yes, jk).

Rejection!

small_ruminant — Tue, 17 Jan 2006 16:18:07 -0800

Rejection Letters - how to write them I'm posting a job for our company. We get hundreds of replies every time we do this, most by people who are in no way qualified.

I can't manage to write everyone an individualized rejection letter. An email form letter personalized with their name will have to do.

1) if their resume is completely off base can I get away with ignoring it?

2) does anyone have any good wording for rejection letters that isn't insulting? In the past we've used a variation of "although your qualifications appear to be substantial..." even if they aren't.

Any input at all will help. Thanks!