Do you look at your coworkers and feel like you don’t belong? Are you constantly worried about getting negative feedback on a project from your boss? Worried you’re not good enough? If you’re feeling like this at work, it’s probably not because you’re bad at your job, it likely all boils down to confidence.
Whether you’re starting a brand new job or you’re in a position you’ve had for years, it’s normal to feel insecure once and awhile. But if you feel like this all the time, you need to build your confidence in the workplace. Building your confidence will help you be more happy at work and it can even help you improve your performance.
Check out these 5 tips for boosting your confidence in the workplace.
1. Eliminate negative self-talk
One of the biggest obstacles standing in the way of your confidence is your own thoughts. Negative self-talk is a killer to your self-esteem. According to VeryWellMind, studies have linked negative self-talk with higher levels of stress and lower levels of self-esteem. At work you might talk to yourself poorly and tell yourself things like “I’m not good enough”, “I’m really bad at this”, or even “I’m so bad at my job, they’re going to fire me soon.” If you want to be more confident in the workplace, you can’t let negative self-talk take over.
Instead, you need to talk to yourself more kindly. Instead of saying “I’m bad at this task” say something like “I’m going to be great at this task with a little more practice.” When you practice positive self-talk everyday, you’ll start to believe it and your confidence will rise.
2. Don’t compare yourself to others
Comparing yourself to others is another self-esteem killer. If you frequently look at the coworkers around you and feel insecure or jealous, it will only lower your confidence in the workplace. And if the skill level of one of your coworkers is higher than yours, that doesn’t mean you’re not great at your job. For example, one of your coworkers might be a rock-star at WordPress SEO, while you’re still learning. Don’t compare yourself to them and devalue your own skills. Remember, with time and practice, you can become just as much of a pro as they are.
Plus, not everyone is good at everything. Focus on what you do best and look back at all of the successes you’ve had. Doing so will help you boost your confidence and be proud of the work you do.
3. Strengthen your skills with continued learning
While you need to stop comparing yourself to others and focus on what you’re great at, it’s still important to strengthen your skills. Improving your skills with continued learning can help you build up the areas you feel like you’re lacking in and become a master at subjects you’re already great at. In fact, according to a study published by Fortune, one of the things that people need to be happy at work is to be engaged in difficult-but-doable activities.
So, challenge yourself and boost your confidence by engaging in continued learning. You can easily strengthen your skills by taking online classes, attending workshops, reading industry-related books and blogs, listening to podcasts, and more.
4. Get to know your co-workers
If you’re the type of person that never has FOMO (fear of missing out) when it comes to work-related events, maybe you should change your mind. Getting to know your coworkers can make you feel more comfortable at work. The more time you spend with coworkers, the less intimidated by them you’ll be. And you’ll feel less like an outsider and more like a part of the team, which can help you build your self-confidence. If your company offers team building events and activities, fill out that event registration form. Even just joining your coworkers for lunch can help you form solid friendships with them.
Alternatively, if you’re not ready to start hanging out with your co-workers yet, go online to connect with people you can relate to. You can join some online forums or membership site platforms to chat with others that are in a similar position as you. Talking through your confidence issues with others who have been where you are can help you work through your issues.
5. Be open to feedback
To grow as a person, you need to be open to feedback. So, if you’re not sure whether you’ve done a great job at project or you’ve done poorly with a task, reach out to someone and get their feedback. Getting actionable feedback will allow you to improve your work and help you be more confident in future projects.
Remember, don’t be afraid to ask questions if you don’t know everything. Not having all of the information you need can make you feel more self-conscious and unsure of your work. So, make sure to ask questions if you’re feeling uncertain. Asking questions won’t make you seem weak, it will show your employers that you’re eager to learn.
Become a confident superstar at work
Boosting your confidence is not only good for your mood but it can also help you perform better at your job. So, don’t let a lack of confidence hold you back from being a superstar at work. Use these tips to boost your confidence sky-high.