One of the most common things we hear from women in our Women Rising program is this:
“I know I’m capable, but I still second-guess myself.”
This can be incredibly frustrating. You may have years of experience, strong feedback, excellent results and a clear track record. And yet, when it comes to putting yourself forward, speaking up, asking for what you want, or making a bold career move, doubt can still take over.
This doesn’t mean you’re not confident. It means you’re human. It also means you may have learned to question yourself more than you realise.
Backing yourself at work is not about becoming fearless. It’s about learning to trust your capability enough to take action, even when some uncertainty is present.
Here are six practical ways to build the confidence to back yourself at work.
1. Stop waiting to feel completely ready
Many women wait until they feel fully prepared before they take the next step. They want to feel certain before applying for the role, speaking in the meeting, asking for the opportunity, or having the conversation.
The problem is that complete readiness is rarely available.
Most meaningful career moves involve some level of uncertainty. You may need to learn new skills, navigate new relationships, or grow into a larger scope of responsibility. That doesn’t mean you’re not ready. It means the opportunity is stretching you.
A more useful question is not, “Am I completely ready?” It’s, “Do I have enough capability, evidence and support to take the next step?”
You don’t need to know everything before you begin. You need enough grounding to move forward and the growth mindset to keep learning as you go.
2. Build an evidence base
Self-doubt often thrives when your mind focuses only on what could go wrong. It forgets what you’ve already done, solved, navigated and achieved.
This is why building an evidence base is so important.
Create a simple record of your wins, outcomes and contributions. Include the projects you’ve delivered, problems you’ve solved, feedback you’ve received, relationships you’ve built and challenges you’ve managed well.
This isn’t about ego. It’s about accuracy and building a record of achievement you can reflect on.
When your inner critic says, “You’re not ready,” you need to be able to look at the evidence and respond with something more balanced. You might still feel nervous, but you’ll be less likely to confuse nerves with lack of capability.
3. Separate discomfort from danger
Growth often feels uncomfortable. Speaking up in a senior meeting can feel uncomfortable. Asking for a promotion can feel uncomfortable. Setting a boundary can feel uncomfortable. Being more visible can feel uncomfortable.
But discomfort is not the same as danger.
Many women have learned to interpret discomfort as a warning sign that they should pull back. Sometimes, it’s simply a sign that you’re doing something new and hitting a new growth curve.
The next time you feel yourself hesitating, pause long enough to name what’s happening. Is this actually unsafe, or is it unfamiliar? Am I responding to a real risk, or to the discomfort of being more visible?
This distinction matters. If something is unsafe or inappropriate, you should take that seriously. But if something is simply uncomfortable because it stretches you, it may be exactly the kind of step that builds confidence over time.
4. Practise self-advocacy in small ways
Backing yourself does not always begin with a major career move. It often begins with smaller moments of self-advocacy.
You might contribute your view in a meeting instead of staying quiet. You might correct someone who minimises your role in a project. You might ask for clearer expectations, more support, or a development opportunity. You might tell your manager what kind of work you want more of.
These moments matter because they build the muscle of speaking on your own behalf.
If self-advocacy feels uncomfortable, start with language that is clear and professional. For example:
“I’d like to share a perspective on this.”
“I’d like to be considered for that opportunity.”
“I want to make sure my contribution to this project is visible.”
“I’m interested in building more experience in this area.”
You don’t need to over-explain or apologise. Clear, calm language is often enough.
5. Stop outsourcing your authority
It’s natural to seek advice, especially when you’re making important decisions. Mentors, managers, peers and coaches can all offer useful perspective.
But there’s a point where seeking input becomes a way of delaying action.
If you ask too many people what they think, you may end up further from your own judgement. You may start weighing everyone else’s opinion more heavily than your own.
Backing yourself means learning to gather input without giving away your authority.
Before asking others what they think, take time to form your own view.
What do you think is the right next step? What do you want? What does your experience tell you? What decision would you make if you trusted yourself?
You can still seek guidance. But let it inform your decision, not replace it.
6. Surround yourself with people who reflect your capability back to you
Confidence is deeply personal, but it’s also relational. The people around you can either reinforce your self-doubt or help you see your capability more clearly.
This is why support matters.
You need people who will tell you the truth, encourage your growth, challenge your assumptions and remind you of what you bring. You need spaces where you can speak honestly about ambition, fear, visibility and uncertainty without pretending you have it all figured out.
That support might come from a mentor, a sponsor, a peer network, a coach, or a structured leadership program.
You don’t need people who simply tell you what you want to hear. You need people who help you stay connected to what is true, especially when your confidence dips.
A final thought
Backing yourself at work does not mean you’ll never doubt yourself. It means doubt no longer gets to make every decision.
It means you can feel nervous and still speak. You can feel uncertain and still apply. You can feel uncomfortable and still advocate for what you want.
Confidence is built through evidence, action and support. The more you take small, aligned steps, the more you begin to trust yourself in bigger moments.
You don’t have to become someone else to back yourself. You need to stop dismissing what you already know, what you’ve already done, and what you’re capable of becoming.