People of all backgrounds struggle to find personal confidence. Some people are born with an innate sense of confidence, while others have to work hard for it. A lack of personal confidence can stem from many things, including lack of support from friends and family, or poor self-esteem. Lacking confidence in yourself psychologically restricts the success you have at work and in relationships, so it is a major barrier to effective performance.
Your socioeconomic status or financial status can be a barrier to effective performance, especially in relation to education. In K-12 schools, the quality of education is a reflection of the socioeconomic standing of the community. Typically, the lower the socioeconomic status, the less funding there is for school programs, resulting in a poorer education because of lack of resources and opportunities. Not having ready access to quality education is a barrier to future success and effective performance because of the lack of preparation.
Despite the progress of equality movements, race and gender discrimination exist as barriers to effective performance. This discrimination can appear in a variety of environments, including education and work settings. Managers may overlook women and minorities for educational programs or career promotions in which they would excel and where they could reach their full potential. Accordingly, race and gender discrimination can be a difficult barrier to overcome for effective performance.
Not having the necessary tools or resources can be a barrier to effective performance in any endeavor. Tools are things individuals need to accomplish the task. They can be tangible items such as access to technology, or intangible things like content knowledge. Resources refer to the places individuals can turn for assistance, such as mentors, information sources and financial resources. Lacking these and other types of tools and resources hinders capability, making effective performance difficult.