Self-Efficacy: A Source of Personal Performance
“The term self-efficacy originates from the notion of a sense of personal efficacy, developed by the Canadian psychologist Albert Bandura. The sense of self-efficacy is the ability of a person to believe in their capabilities. By deploying all possible means, the individual will be able to achieve their goals. Self-efficacy thus influences well-being and personal development in various ways.”
What is your reaction when facing a particular problem? Do you give up immediately or do you take courage to confront the situation? Do challenges plunge you into despair, or do they motivate you? Are you afraid to set goals to achieve, or do you have many projects? Is there a difference between these two ways of life? These are all questions that deserve answers… Discover throughout this article what self-efficacy is. Also, understand why it is so important and what to do to increase it.
What is the Sense of Self-Efficacy or SEP?
The SEP, or sense of self-efficacy, is a notion developed by Albert Bandura, a Canadian psychologist. It refers to an individual’s beliefs about their ability to achieve goals. Thus, a person with a sense of self-efficacy tends to undertake, engage, self-determine, or seek information. On the other hand, a person with little sense of self-efficacy will always feel helpless, demotivated, and powerless.
This concept is a mixture of clinical psychology, social psychology, and personality psychology. It is used in psychotherapy and in programs for personal fulfillment and well-being. It helps people achieve their goals in various areas such as health, studies, or work.
The 4 Factors That Can Influence the Development of Self-Efficacy
It is proven that a person’s self-efficacy is not fixed, as it can decrease or increase. Therefore, it is essential to know how self-efficacy is built. These thoughts begin to develop during childhood and continue to grow as children grow older. However, it should be noted that self-efficacy increases as a person becomes more mature. Over the years, one acquires new experiences, skills, and knowledge. According to Bandura, four main factors can ensure the development of self-efficacy:
- Achievement, synonymous with high self-efficacy
One of the best ways to increase a sense of high self-efficacy is through achievement. This is felt through the effective completion of tasks and the desire to take on challenges. On the other hand, if a person cannot perform the tasks they must undertake, their sense of self-efficacy will decrease. - Social modeling: leveraging the success of others
Seeing other people succeed in their tasks is another source of self-efficacy. Seeing others accomplish great things can also inspire you to do the same. - Psychological responses, influencing one’s perception of efficacy
Personal reactions and responses have a significant impact on the perception of self-efficacy. Physical or emotional reactions have a major impact on an individual’s ability to face life. - Verbal persuasion: pushing an individual to excel
The beliefs of those around you can persuade a person about their ability to achieve a goal. Encouragement is therefore a way to help someone excel. On the contrary, being constantly put down by one’s surroundings can affect one’s self-perception. Consequently, it can have negative impacts on the sense of self-efficacy.
Note that self-efficacy is essential if you want to succeed in your life. It is crucial, therefore, to exploit these four pillars well to move forward and increase your chances!
How to Increase Self-Efficacy?
Even though humans acquire the concept of self-efficacy very early, it will evolve and develop over time. So, how can you increase your sense of self-efficacy? Here are some techniques to increase your level of SEP:
- Learn to set clear goals in life;
- Set deadlines for achievement according to the goals you want to achieve;
- Measure the distances between your goals and their deadlines for achievement;
- Create a priority list;
- Differentiate between urgent, essential, and important tasks;
- Take 15 minutes each day to organize your day;
- For organizing your week, take 30 minutes for reflection;
- Identify time-consuming activities;
- Dare to say no;
- Do not hesitate to use a timer to complete a task a little faster than you usually do;
- Arm yourself with courage and perseverance;
- Set limits for yourself;
- Get up very early.
Finally, it is advisable to take a piece of paper and make a checklist of all the so-called “time-consuming” activities. Writing will help you release, and re-reading will help you assimilate.
