Five tips to boost confidence at work

I run my own business and have done so for 13 years, so I no longer have to answer to anyone.

However, I hear many people complain that they feel intimidated by their boss, colleagues or peers. I empathise, as I too used to feel inadequate and insecure at work.

Do you ever feel...

• Worried you won’t get offered the job, promotion or raise?
• Fed up with what your inner critic tells you?
• Too nervous to confront a difficult colleague?
• Worried you’ll get found out, as though you are not as smart or as qualified as your colleagues?

If so, you are not alone. Many people feel they would be further ahead in their career if they had more self-belief.

Comparing ourselves to others is futile. Look in the mirror; that’s your competition.

In order to achieve our professional goals, we have to boost our confidence.

How can you do this?

What we practise, we become.

Here are my five tips.

Five tips to boost confidence at work

1. Reframe

Tell yourself a different story every morning on your way to work, before a meeting, before a presentation or before an interview.

Say, over and over with conviction: “I can and I will.”

2. Use daily reminders

Keep empowering words somewhere you will see them regularly, such as on a note in your diary, on your desk or as a private reminder on your phone.

For example:

• “I am bright, I’ve got it right.”
• “Every word is valued and heard.”
• “I am worthy of success.”

3. Plan your conversations

Plan your conversations if you can. Speak strongly, but simply. Speak for success.

By over-explaining, talking too much or constantly justifying yourself, you may under-convince and lose credibility.

4. Collect positive feedback

Ask colleagues, bosses or clients who speak highly of you to write a few lines about why they rate you.

Print them out and keep them somewhere nearby to read whenever you lack confidence. Keep a copy at home too, somewhere you can see it each day.

5. Pause before you respond

Respond or react: what’s the difference? Sometimes, it’s about three seconds.

It’s not always helpful to dramatically display your feelings. Wear a coloured elastic band and ping it each time you are about to react, or pinch yourself lightly to remind yourself to pause.

By being aware, firing your inner critic and changing the story you’re telling yourself, you can begin to change your mindset and, by doing so, change your belief system.

You can reframe negative self-talk into positive self-talk, which can help you change your actions and behaviours and boost your confidence.

Think of it like this: if you keep telling yourself you are not good enough, you will stay with that belief.

I know. I used to do this all the time.

The crazy thing is that people feel that if tips and techniques are too simple, they won’t work. The paradox is that the only tips and techniques that have ever worked for me are the simple ones.

The secret is that you have to apply them.

Why?

It’s your time to shine.