Lack of confidence at work is the biggest reason that women don’t progress their career, so in this post we’ll look at how to be more confident at work and 10 tools that you can use for this.
As well-educated and hard-working women, we have incredible potential and amazing skills which should mean that our careers are thriving! However often feelings of self-doubt or imposter syndrome hold us back from achieving the potential we’re capable of.
The good news is that there are some practical tools and strategies and that can be put in place to boost confidence and help you unlock your true and full potential.
This post will take you through some of these actionable techniques and tools that you can use to help you gain the confidence you need to get to where you want to go in your career.
How to feel more confident at work – 10 tools
In summary, here’s the 10 tools for how to feel more confident at work:
- Recognise your strengths and accomplishments
- Build your network
- Do something new
- Standing and sitting more confidently
- Learn assertive communication
- Practice before you do
- Get positive feedback
- Find a way outside of work to practice a skill you’re not feeling confident of at work
- Self Care
- Set goals and take clear action
Lets go through each one in more detail:
1: Recognise your strengths and accomplishments
Make a list of:
- Your unique talents and skills that you use at work
- Your accomplishments at work – projects you’ve completed, the difference you’ve made to your team and your colleagues
- What do people come to you for, whether it’s officially part of your job or not?
- Your personal strengths outside of work – what would those who love you and know you best say about you?
- Your accomplishments outside of work – this may be for example sport or fitness related, things you achieved at school, voluntary work that you do, support you give to loved ones, travel you’ve completed or adversities you’ve learned how to cope with or overcome
Doing this exercise will remind you what an amazing person that you are!
2: Build your network
Make a list of those around you who you feel support you on your career path. This may be people in your current workplace but also ex-colleagues, family members, and like-minded professionals. You may also want to seek out someone who can be a mentor to you. If you feel you would benefit from growing your network further, then identify people who uplift, support and encourage you. Seek out positive role models who inspire you to reach new heights and can provide guidance along the way.
3: Do something new
Don’t shy away from stepping out of your comfort zone and trying something you haven’t done before. New challenges are opportunities to stretch your abilities and showcase your potential. Trying something you haven’t done before and not getting it 100% right first time is a valuable learning experience that contributes to your growth. You’ll be proud of yourself for having pushed yourself and tried, and you’ll demonstrate to your manager that you’re up for taking on bigger challenges.
4: Standing and sitting more confidently
Fear and anxiety are very physical feelings in our body. However the flipside of this is that science shows that just 2 minutes putting your body in to a more expansive position that LOOKS more confident actually makes you then FEEL – and then act – more confident. And if you do this enough, then you go on to actually BE more confident. There are poses that you can do sitting at a desk or standing, depending on what situation you’re in. with repetition you can actually start to create those feelings over time.
See this TED talk from Amy Cuddy who explains the science and shows you how to do the poses that will help you.
Here’s me trying out my power poses!
5: Learn assertive communictaion
Effective communication is crucial for workplace confidence. Learn how to express your thoughts, ideas, and opinions assertively. Speak up in meetings, share your insights, and actively contribute to discussions. Observe how others do it who you feel are good communicators. Try and make note of the details that makes you feel they’re good at it. If you have a good relationship with them, ask them for some tips as to how you can be a better communicator and build your skills. Remember that your voice and perspective are valuable and deserve to be heard.
6: Practice before you do
Repetition is the key to building confidence. If you need to present to your manager, your team, your client… or you have a difficult conversation to have with someone, then practice before you do it. If you don’t have time to practice the whole thing, then practice how you’re going to start – even just your first sentence. Starting strong will put you in the right frame of mind to keep going in that way, and set the right first impression with your audience.
7: Get positive feedback
You can give yourself positive feedback. Keep a log of times when you’ve done well – which could be simply you speaking assertively in a meeting or it could be as big as completing a major project. Keep a list of these achievements and review them regularly to remind yourself of all your achievements.
If appropriate, seek feedback from your manager, mentor and your colleagues to hear from others where you’ve done well. Ask them to tell you what they feel your strengths are.
8: Commit to continuous learning
Seek opportunities to expand your knowledge, develop new skills, and stay updated with industry trends. Taking part in workshops, training programs, or online courses can significantly boost your expertise and in doing so, enhance your confidence in the workplace. Identify if you have any weaknesses are in your current role and seek out opportunities to learn and develop your skills around these areas – even if this is done outside of the workplace.
9: Self Care
Self-care plays a significant role in maintaining overall well-being, which will impact your confidence at work. Schedule time for those activities that recharge you – e.g. exercise, meditation, hobbies, creativity and quality time with the people you care about. Nurturing your physical and emotional health will strengthen your resilience and put you in prime condition to grow your confidence.
10: Set goals and take action
Establish clear and achievable goals aligned with your aspirations. Break them down into smaller, manageable steps and create an action plan. By taking deliberate and consistent actions towards your goals, you’ll develop a sense of purpose and accomplishment, fuelling your confidence. If you’d like some help with doing this, then my process is designed to help you do this exactly – you can also book a free 30 minute coaching call with me.
Feeling confident at work is within your reach. By implementing these strategies and embracing your own uniqueness and your abilities, you can unlock empowerment. Remember that confidence is created the more that we practice doing things, so by using these tools repeatedly, your confidence will grow.
Career paths don’t always run in a straight line. Where there are challenges, there are also great opportunities for learning and growth. Embrace the journey that is your career!
Watch this space also for more information on my new course which is coming soon – which is called ‘How to Create The Career You Really Want. Sign up for my newsletter if you’d like to keep up to date on the special launch promotional price.
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