5 ways to boost self-confidence in the workplace

We spend a huge amount of time in our lives working. Our jobs become part of our identity. So when we lack confidence at our job, it can cause a lot of stress, negative feelings, and impact our self-esteem. Self-confidence is something we need to work at and cultivate. There will always be times when things don’t go as well at work; we may make mistakes, feel overwhelmed, can’t deliver on expectations, didn’t get the promotion we wanted, etc. Mistakes, disappointments and rejection will always happen, we can’t avoid them despite of how hard or well we do our work, what’s important is how we handle them.

Here are five ways to build up your confidence at work when you’re not feeling at your best:

Accept your feelings

It is very normal for self-esteem and confidence to fluctuate. We’re not always going to feel 100% confident about ourselves and our jobs. When you start a new position or tackle a new project, the uncertainty and newness is sure to shake our confidence a little bit. Knowing this and accepting that these feelings are okay can help you to normalize what you are experiencing and move past it. Some days you will feel like you can conquer the world, other days you feel a bit more unsure – both are completely okay.

Celebrate accomplishments

Whether or not you receive external acknowledgement or recognition from a supervisor or colleague on a job well done, you can help build your confidence at work by celebrating your own accomplishments. Maybe you completed a difficult project, made a big sale, or just spoke up in a meeting even though it scared you – big or small, take the time to acknowledge what you have done well and feel good about it. You can’t rely on other people or external factors to make you feel capable and good about yourself. You need to reinforce your own accomplishments, talents, and capabilities and this will build your self-confidence and your core self-worth.

Manage your thoughts

If your self-confidence in wavering, you’re probably feeding yourself a variety of negative thoughts. You may be thinking: “I’m not good enough,” or “I’m going to fail” or “Everyone else is more successful than me.” The way we talk to ourselves can make or break our self-confidence. Notice when these thoughts arise and try to counter them with more positive or realistic thoughts. Tell yourself that you are enough, that you are capable, and that you don’t have to be perfect.

Build your skills

Whether you’ve been doing your job for years or you’re brand new, there are always opportunities to grow your skill sets learning something new or improving upon what you already know can increase your self-esteem and confidence by showing yourself how capable you are. Take a free online workshop, participate in a webinar, sign up for a conference – expand your knowledge and skills and your confidence will expand too.

Re-frame your perception of failure and negative feedback

Failing at a task or receiving negative feedback at work can be a huge blow to your confidence. No one enjoys being told that they haven’t done something well. But if we change our perception of failure and criticism, these moments can be used to grow and improve. Try to reframe how you look at mistakes and feedback as neutral – when they happen it doesn’t mean you’re bad or incompetent. Evaluate the situation and the feedback you were given. Feedback can be taken as coaching to help you perfect and become better at your work. Listen to what you are being told and learn from it. Mistakes don’t mean that you have a character flaw – when you make a mistake, it shows that you are trying.

You are only human, and you can’t be perfect all the time. Many times, we can get caught up focusing on our imperfections, leading us to think negatively about ourselves and our actions. The way you think and feel about yourself affects every aspect of your life If you’re having trouble mitigating your thoughts from negative to positive, we can help. Counselling can help you build the tools you need to handle situations of wavering self-confidence. Just remember that you’re a work-in-progress, and self-confidence is part of that work too.