There is a vacant post that I am faced with at my workplace. It is a big post that I may be promoted to but I feel it is too big for me at the moment. But I am afraid if I give it up it will be given to the next person qualified for it, a male colleague who is my junior and knowing him as I do he won’t say no. What do I do, I don’t want to expose myself with a big post I am not yet ready for? – Deputy
Dear Deputy
Do not be afraid of making mistakes. There is never a time when you will feel ready for this post. You feelings of reluctance are based in the fear of change – which is perfectly natural. It is normal to feel afraid and inadequate. But like you rightfully said, your junior who is a male would take it without even stammering.
It is because men fake it until they make it. They do not say no to opportunities, they grab them and are not afraid to make mistakes. Mistakes will always be made but that is the only way we learn as people. You are the most qualified person for the post and experience will come by practising the work in those shoes. Remember that experience entails failing as well. So, do not be afraid of making mistakes – for failure comes with success.
You are just lacking confidence in yourself. But you have the qualities the position requires. It is time to stand up and show that you can do it. Go for it! – Aunty Lisa
Post published in: Letters to the Editor
You were created in the image of God, were you not?
Take the bull by the horns and go for it, or you will live with this regret that you didn’t do so for the rest of your life. Opportunities seldom knock twice in this life. Hopefully these words of inspiration from some of the Greats will inspire you to take that post. The fact that you are even thinking about it means you are ready for it, but you will never realise how ready you are until you try. Good luck!
― Joel Osteen,
“You must make a decision that you are going to move on. It wont happen automatically. You will have to rise up and say, ‘I don’t care how hard this is, I don’t care how disappointed I am, I’m not going to let this get the best of me. I’m moving on with my life.†from his book, Your Best Life Now: 7 Steps to Living at Your Full Potential.
Mary Angelou – “You may encounter many defeats, but you must not be defeated. In fact, it may be necessary to encounter the defeats, so you can know who you are, what you can rise from, how you can still come out of it.â€
― Theodore Roosevelt “It is hard to fail, but it is worse never to have tried to succeed.â€
and finally, my favourite,
– Robert F Kennedy “Only those who dare to fail greatly can ever achieve greatly.â€