Qualities of a High Achiever - Internal vs External Validation?

Aid for Aid Workers Leadership Podcast

I was honored to do a Time Management Master Training at the WILD Forum last week. After the training, I found myself looking through the participants' comments for feedback. And I quickly stopped myself. While receiving feedback is wonderful, we need to be careful when we find ourselves craving it. In my case, I was craving the feedback to confirm that "this presentation is amazing" - or really "I am amazing." Although I found the feedback to validate people felt it was good, I also found myself wanting more.

This is the danger of feedback or external validation - if we find ourselves asking for it for the wrong reasons, it can actually be more harmful than helpful. Why? Because we are never satisfied when we are looking for other people's beliefs to make us believe more in ourselves. It just doesn't happen that way.

So what kind of validation are you seeking, and is it helping or hurting you? You may not even be aware you're doing it.

Find out how to become aware and when to stop yourself in this week's episode.

Resources mentioned:

- WILD Forum 2022

- The Success Factor: What Do High Achievers Have in Common? by Dr Ruth Gotian