Art, obsession, and identity
Knowing your strengths and capitalizing on them is a great way to get those confidence levels up. Start by making a list of those things you do better than anyone else.
It also helps if you are able to identify your weaknesses, although it is important not to obsess over these or let them stand in the way of moving forward.
Once you have identified your strengths, think about ways in which you can integrate them into your every day. If this proves impossible, it might be time for a new role!
While it can be tempting to get distracted by office gossip, it is important that you do your best to stay on task and focus on getting the job done.
Taking stock of your weaknesses can be a good thing, because you can draw up a plan to work on them, thus reducing their impact or eliminating them altogether.
There are always lots of distractions in every place of work, but a surefire way to increase your confidence is to work hard and keep a positive, focused attitude.
Adopting a "can-do" attitude is more helpful than you could ever imagine. Try saying to yourself "I can do this," even if you have doubts about your ability.
It may also help to say affirmations to yourself each night, either three things that you like about yourself, or three things that went well that day.
You might like to keep a record of the projects you have led or the bigger tasks you have completed, so that you can dip into it if you ever need to remind yourself of your worth.
It is similarly important to bask in the victories, not matter how small. Next time someone compliments you on a piece of work, try and hold on to that feeling for the whole day.
A record of your previous successes can come in handy for those moments in which you find your confidence lacking.
The reality is that at some point something or someone will threaten your confidence, and part of maintaining that confidence is accepting that reality.
It is easy to let small pieces of positive feedback slide, but if you really take each compliment on board you will find that your confidence starts to grow.
It can never hurt to seek encouragement or affirmation, but this is particularly important if you find it difficult to identify your strengths. Try asking your boss to identify them instead.
If and when a nasty comment or a failure does shake your confidence, be sure to give yourself between 24 and 48 hours to recover before responding or making a decision.
This is a good tactic because more often than not, other people see strengths in our character that we do not see ourselves.
Completing a task that you didn't think yourself capable of is certain to boost your confidence. Try to take on projects that stretch you to the edge of your ability and beyond.
You will likely have to start with baby steps, but the important thing is to immerse yourself in the challenge and not pass judgment on your performance too early on in the process.
Adopting a positive attitude will not only make you feel more confident, but it will instill confidence in those around you because positivity is infectious.
Being positive doesn't necessarily mean being happy all the time; you can also be a positive role model by demonstrating resilience. Focus not on the problem, but on finding the solution.
Recognizing that anyone can act out when under pressure or stress, and realizing that aggressive behaviors are not a reflection on you, can help you to respond more appropriately.
If you suffer from imposter syndrome, i.e. the feeling that you are not as good as those around you and only got where you are by luck or good timing, it is important to nip this in the bud.
A great way to become more confident is to elevate yourself emotionally from the reactions of others, particularly those of your boss or others more senior than you.
If you receive a compliment, for example, take it on board and give a humble response. Don't give an answer that suggests you think you are better or more accomplished than anyone else.
When working on your confidence, it can be easy to cross over into cockiness. The line between the two is fine, but it's important to know the difference.
Crossing items off your daily "to do" list will leave you with a feeling of accomplishment when you finish for the day.
Keeping a record of daily wins can be just as helpful as tracking those big successes. Try to get in the habit of making a "to do" list at the beginning of each day.
If you cannot do this or it doesn't appeal to you, simply creating a list of things or people to cheer yourself up can work wonders if you need a little confidence boost.
Sources: (Forbes) (Glassdoor)
Whenever you catch yourself thinking a negative thought, counter it with a compliment. Accept praise from others without questioning it or suspecting an ulterior motive.
This one is similar to keeping a record of your successes, but involves holding on to emails, performance reviews, or notes from others referring to things you have done well.
There are some people who seem to start each working day brimming with confidence and self-belief that they will achieve great things. If this is you, and you really do feel that confidence, bravo! However, it is not uncommon to feel a little unsure of yourself or even completely lack confidence at work. Thankfully, there are some things you can do if you do find yourself in this situation.
Check out this gallery for some tips on how to be more confident at work.
How to be more confident at work
Boost your confidence and excel
LIFESTYLE Employee
There are some people who seem to start each working day brimming with confidence and self-belief that they will achieve great things. If this is you, and you really do feel that confidence, bravo! However, it is not uncommon to feel a little unsure of yourself or even completely lack confidence at work. Thankfully, there are some things you can do if you do find yourself in this situation.
Check out this gallery for some tips on how to be more confident at work.