Anyone can experience a little knock to their confidence from time to time.
For example, perhaps you weren’t happy with a presentation you gave. Or you felt like you hadn’t quite achieved what you set out to do in a project you were a part of.
Whatever the reason(s), it’s very common.
But what if you feel like you lack self-confidence more often than not? Or what if you’ve never really felt like you had much self-confidence in the workplace?
Being confident in our abilities at work has so many benefits. It can:
- Empower us to produce higher quality work, making us desirable candidates for promotions and pay rises.
- Improve our engagement and help us foster stronger working relationships.
- Help us create a happier and more positive mindset, improving morale for ourselves and those around us.
- Reduce stress and improve feelings of the coveted work-life balance!
- Improve problem-solving and leadership skills.
That’s why I wanted to dedicate my next blog to this topic.
I’d love to share my top 7 tips and show you that you CAN build up your confidence at work. I hope you find it helpful!
1. Seek clarification
Sometimes a lack of confidence arises when we feel unsure about the responsibilities we’ve been given or the output needed on a particular task.
An excellent way to feel more secure in what you’re doing at work is to seek clarification.
This could be asking questions in meetings to ensure you understand all the information presented to you or speaking to your line manager regularly to understand your objectives and track progress against them.
Seeking clarification in this way demonstrates confidence too! It shows you’re willing to accept a level of vulnerability to do a good job and succeed.
2. Develop yourself and stay curious
None of us are finished articles! Instead, we’re all on a journey of self-discovery and life-long learning.
If you find you’re confident in some areas but lacking in others. Do something about it! Increase your skills through personal development, whether it’s boosting your IT skills, dipping your toe into the world of leadership and management, or improving your team-building expertise. There are hundreds of courses out there to help you.
To find out more about what’s on offer, here are a couple of sites to visit:
https://about.linkedin.com/coronavirus-resource-hub/online-courses
https://freecoursesinengland.co.uk/online/
3. Look the part
The clothes and colours we wear can completely change how we feel and act.
Feeling comfortable and confident in our bodies can shine through into every area of our lives.
You’ve probably noticed it when you wear your favourite suit or dress for a big presentation. You seem to stand a little taller, your shoulders drop and relax, and you feel yourself smiling more.
Did you know there’s something called colour analysis that looks at your skin tone, eye and hair colour, and which colours to use to make your natural features pop?
Following a consultation, you’ll understand what shades are flattering and even which cut of clothes best suit your unique architecture.
You can find out more here: https://www.houseofcolour.co.uk/
Body language also affects how we present ourselves and how others perceive us. Using open body language can make us appear more confident and even feel more confident too. For example, smiling, maintaining eye contact, adopting a relaxed posture, and showing we’re actively listening to others.
4. Push yourself outside of your comfort zone
If you lack confidence at work, remaining safely in your comfort zone can be tempting. But taking on small pieces of work outside your role or volunteering for things you find a little daunting such as giving a presentation or attending a networking event, can really boost confidence.
5. Study those who are more confident
As with many things at work, sometimes the best thing to do is study those around you.
Choose one or two people you think appear naturally confident and observe them. What’s their body language like? How do they interact with others? And how do they behave in meetings?
If you feel comfortable, you could also speak to them about it. Explain that you’d like to increase your confidence and see if they have any helpful hints and tips. You may find they’re also working on their confidence levels and that it doesn’t just come to them easilySometimes we place people on pedestals only to find they’re also dealing with their own insecurities!
6. Set yourself goals
Confidence won’t come overnight. It may take a little work.
Try setting yourself some short to medium-term goals to help you get there.
These could be:
- Asking more questions in meetings
- Volunteering for a new project
- Giving a sales update in front of a large audience
- Speaking to your line manager about areas for development
- Running a training session
7. Focus on the positives
A lack of self-confidence can cause us to turn inwards and spend a lot of time in our own heads. So instead of focusing on where you feel you’re lacking, look at your strengths.
- What are you good at?
- What do you bring to your team/organisation?
- What do you enjoy and find easy at work?
- What have you achieved lately? Remember to celebrate your successes!
- How do you think others see you?
Perhaps you’re known for your dedication, reliability, meeting deadlines on time, attention to detail, or strong customer relationships.
You’ll have lots of positive attributes, and with a little effort, you CAN improve your self-confidence in the workplace.
Are you ready to build your confidence in the workplace?
If you’re wanting to build your workplace confidence but need a helping hand to make this happen, let’s have a virtual coffee and a chat.
It would also be great to connect with you on LinkedIn and Facebook!
