On Starting a New Job: How to Navigate with Competence and Confidence

Source: Gordon Training International

A couple weeks ago, I took on a big new project outside of my comfort zone. In a virtual meeting with a new colleague, I suddenly found myself peering into my laptop screen as she spoke, nodding politely whilst all I could think was: What on earth is she talking about?

As this colleague excitedly shared a whole plethora of new initiatives, I could barely keep a straight face, head spinning. Turns out, I was experiencing the first and second stage of the four stages of competence. 

Stage 1 - Unconscious Incompetence: You don’t know what you don’t know, and sit in polite amazement of what someone is sharing whilst having an inkling that there is surely more to come. You are yet unsure of what that might be, seeing as you don’t have the bigger picture. 

Stage 2 - Conscious Incompetence: That stage when you do know that you don’t know how to do something, and find yourself wincing and realizing the breadth of the learning gap. This is the hard part!

Stage 3 - Conscious Competence: You know what you need to know — it’s a bit of a climb to figure out the how, but you’re on your way.

Stage 4 - Unconscious Competence: You just know what to do. Like riding a bicycle, you don’t even think about it anymore! 

If you’re starting something new or experiencing any kind of learning curve in life right now — I see you, and I’m right there with you. Where do you find yourself in this model? I love this visual because it can help provide perspective; the goal is to move forward, but progress takes time. What learning process works for you?

For me, learning something new always means going back to old fashioned pen & paper (and taking copious notes that I can look over later). I used to feel embarrassed walking around with a notepad while everyone else was on their fancy device, but that’s how my brain works! Embrace the way you like to learn, and give yourself grace if something doesn’t click right away.

Let’s go back to Stage Two for a moment, because this is the wobbly one for most people. Experiencing conscious incompetence can bring about a lot of self-inflicted shame and pressure — you don’t want to fail or let anyone down. On my first day, my husband sent me a message that read: “You are not alone.” He’s right — any successful project, great piece of art, athletic win (etc. etc.) takes a village. We need to rely on others for our own progression and success.

So with that in mind, here are three ways I’ve been approaching my own incompetence this month, and I hope they might inspire you too:

Do a You-Turn

Ask yourself: What do I need mentally, strategically, and holistically for maximum well-being? When you’re on the edge of learning, you’re on high alert and utilizing a lot of energy to stave off fear. For me, I needed to hire a coach to help me cut out the noise and focus on timely deliverables.  

Look to the Horizon

A helpful reframe can be: What outcome does the team/organization need, and what’s the outward perspective? Remembering that you are there in support of a vision and result greater than yourself can help you gain fresh perspective and stay focused on milestones. How can you apply this line of thinking to your next first day?

Only the Not-So Lonely

Ask for help; don’t be embarrassed or afraid. Learning how to do something new requires you to amass information. What kind of information do you need, and who can best help you along the way? A colleague, mentor, coaching cohort? No one can guess for you. I like to think of all the allies in our lives as bridges: they help us get over to where we want to be, so don’t hesitate to reach out and build that bridge brick by brick.

With joy,

Dr. Helen