Importance of Confidence at Work
When starting a new job, it’s normal to feel a bit insecure as you’re learning the ins and outs of the role and company culture. However for some, even when you’ve been at a company for years, you may still lack confidence in the workplace. This can stem from your childhood, past work experiences, your personality, etc. Lacking confidence isn’t an inherent flaw, but it can hold you back from reaching your full potential at work. The good news though is that confidence is a skill that can be learned and improved over time. In today’s blog, we’ll dive further into why confidence is important and how you can go about building your confidence.
Real-Life Examples of Lacking and Processing Confidence
So you may be wondering, what does it look like to lack confidence exactly, and how does that hold you back? One example could be that you have a hard time speaking up and voicing your opinions in meetings for fear of being judged. On the flip side, processing confidence would enable you to share your thoughts and ideas in group settings with ease. Another common scenario is continually second-guessing yourself and not taking decisive actions. With confidence, you’d be able to execute your work without nagging doubts and seeking validation from others. Lacking confidence has been shown to affect your happiness and performance at work as well. In a study conducted by Indeed, they found “Nearly all workers (98%) say they perform better when they feel confident” and “94% of respondents say they’re happier when they feel confident at work”.
Building Your Confidence
When working towards building your confidence, it can be helpful to first think about the areas at work you feel strong in and excel at. Taking stock of your past successes can help you acknowledge your abilities and skills instead of just focusing on your shortcomings. We all have our strengths and weaknesses at work, but if you’re someone who is lacking confidence, you might be focusing a lot of your attention on the latter. Start to shift your perspective to focus on the ways you are good at your job and lean more into those skills and abilities you already possess. Another way to build confidence is to become more mindful of how you speak to yourself and your “inner critic” meaning that voice in your head that can keep you feeling insecure and unsure. There may be small triggers in your day that are bringing up feelings of inferiority or insecurities such as getting called on during a meeting. Being mindful of what causes you to feel self-conscious can be helpful because you can then think about the ways you can start to bring more confidence to that scenario. In this example, preparing for the meeting, and having talking points prepared and practiced ahead of time, will help you feel more confident voicing your opinion if you are called on. Small steps add up every day so head into your day with the intention of implementing one small actionable step that would work towards increasing your confidence at work. In an article on Forbes, they write, “For example, set specific goals like sharing at least one thought or asking a question in every meeting. Practice turning your inner critic into your biggest champion. Seek out positive work colleagues and mentors that support your professional development. By slowly moving outside your comfort zone, you will successfully build the confidence muscle you need to succeed.”