Stop Comparing Yourself to Others: Focus on Your Own Career Progress

In the pursuit of personal and professional growth, it is natural to look around and measure ourselves against peers and colleagues.

This tendency, however, often leads to feelings of inadequacy and distraction from our true path. For career-oriented professionals committed to continuous development, understanding the difference between comparing ourselves sideways and backwards can be transformative.

The concept comes from a recent discussion on The Better Coaching Podcast, where Zach Brandon, former head of mental performance for a professional baseball team, explained how comparison impacts motivation and satisfaction. While this example comes from the coaching world, the lessons apply broadly to any career focused on steady improvement.

Understanding Sideways and Backwards Comparison

Sideways comparison involves looking at others who are in similar roles or at a similar stage of their careers and measuring ourselves against their achievements. On the surface, this might seem like a useful benchmark, but it is often an incomplete and unhelpful picture. We see someone’s current success but rarely understand the hours of effort, unique challenges, or timing that contributed to it. This type of comparison tends to produce anxiety, self-doubt, and a sense that we are not enough.

On the other hand, backwards comparison encourages us to measure our present self against our past self. This approach requires identifying a clear vision of the professional we want to become and then assessing how far we have come along that path. Instead of focusing on others, we focus on our own growth trajectory, recognizing the progress made and the areas where we want to improve.

Practical Steps for Backwards Comparison

For example, a professional might reflect on where they stood at the beginning of last year compared to today. What new skills have they acquired? How has their ability to manage projects or lead teams evolved? By focusing on the "gain over the gap"—the distance between where we were and where we are now—we foster internal satisfaction and motivation to continue growing.

To make this practical, take a few moments to answer questions such as:

• What is one area in which I have grown over the past year?
• What are three ways I have improved in my role over the last three years?
• What is one specific area I am committed to developing over the coming year?

Writing down these reflections creates a clear roadmap and reinforces a mindset of continual improvement rooted in self-awareness.

Benefits of a Backwards Comparison Approach

This mindset shift also helps counteract the pervasive influence of social media and cultural pressures that constantly nudge us toward sideways comparison. Instead of chasing validation through others’ accomplishments, we can build confidence through honest self-assessment and deliberate goal-setting.

Adopting a backwards comparison approach aligns with professional coaching principles and promotes sustainable growth. It encourages patience, resilience, and a focus on long-term development rather than short-term validation. By committing to this practice, career professionals can foster a healthier relationship with their own progress and ultimately become more effective, fulfilled leaders.

For those interested in exploring this concept further, the original discussion by Luke Gromer on The Better Coaching Podcast offers valuable insights. The full article and podcast episode can be found at Better Coaching Hub.

In conclusion, shifting from sideways to backwards comparison is a practical and meaningful way to maintain focus on personal and professional growth. It invites us to recognize our unique journey and make steady progress without the distractions of external comparison. For career professionals dedicated to long-term success, this approach offers a grounded and effective path forward.

Original Source: https://bettercoachinghub.com/p/sideways-vs-backwards-comparison-how-to-escape-the-coaching-trap