Rise and fall of the A Player

Question summary: I'm typically a top performer at work, but over the past two years I've found it very difficult to put in the extra work I'm accustomed to doing. I know that my reputation has taken a hit, even though I'm still seen as a valuable contributor. How do I get back on top?

Dear Career Curator,

You are not alone. The past two years have wrecked havoc on most of our lives. Some among us have lived through unimaginable loss. While others feel like they have lost their way. No matter which group you identify with, you are still faced with the task of rebuilding in some way or another. It's important to give yourself grace. It's easy to feel uniquely impacted by tragedy, especially if you are not actively engaging in community of some form. Your individual experience can feel overwhelming, but you may find solace in engaging with others and sharing your experience. It's also important to consider how much of who you were before you felt this shift, do you actually want to reintroduce into your new life. Our first mind always wants to return to safety, but maybe there are elements of how you were working before that no longer serve you. You are embarking on a journey of rediscovering yourself, perhaps this new version of you looks a bit different.

Seek therapy. Whether individual or in a group setting, therapy can provide an unbiased outlet to talk through what you are experiencing. Having access to therapy is a wonderful asset that will help you explore the depth of your concerns. It's possible that the impact on your work is not the only sign that you have lived through a traumatic experience. Investing the time to explore the root cause of your current disposition can provide the clarity needed to create a plan of action. These conversations can help you identify exactly what changes you want to make and why. With a clear understanding of your needs, you can more easily begin the work to reinvigorate your confidence and capabilities. If you do not have access to therapy, leverage your community or tribe for support.

Ask for support. While this seems obvious, it's often the step that most people skip for a variety of reasons. First, check in with your boss about your performance. Talk though what your challenges have been and your plan of action. Ask for specific support in the areas where you know they will be able to help you. As a top performer, your boss wants to help you perform at your best. Keeping in mind that your best may not be above and beyond all the time on every task. Read that again, because there's a misnomer that top performers are operating at 100% at all times. That's simply not possible and certainly not sustainable. Ask for specific feedback related to changes your boss has noticed in your performance. You may find that you are not as far from the mark as you think. Either way, you will at least have a focused list of improvements to start with.

Lastly, believe that your success is possible. Whether you end up totally reinventing yourself or making small tweaks to get back on track, your belief that better is possible for you is the most important motivation you can give yourself. Develop a plan of action with small goals outlined and as you accomplish things on your plan, be sure to celebrate those wins. At this stage, you will benefit greatly from encouragement and acknowledgement of the effort you are applying to get back on top. Once you have achieved success, you can replicate it. You also have the ability to improve upon your original definition of success. Consider that setbacks are learning opportunities, they don't have to be stumbling blocks and they definitely don't need to define who you are.

With encouragement,

Career Curator