How to be more confident at work: 5 ways to build self-confidence

How to be more confident at work.

Wondering how to be more confident at work? Confidence and self-belief can come and go in our careers, it's a process and something you can develop! Here are 5 practical things you can do to boost your self-confidence in your job! Even in a virtual world.  

1. Challenge yourself: How to be more confident at work.

At the beginning of your work week, sit and think about what small challenge you can set yourself. Set one each week for at least a month.

These can be as challenging as you feel appropriate. It could be to ask someone for a 'coffee' networking conversation, confidently speaking up more in a meeting, or even asking for feedback from a manager. The challenge is unique to you. If you want to build confidence, pushing yourself into your stretch zone is a proven way to demonstrate how capable you are. Be intentional here. Think about what it will give you by doing this.

Write down what it is and when in the week you are going to do it. According to research you’re 40% more likely to achieve your goals if you write them down. This is the first step to becoming more confident at work.

2. Stop comparing yourself

Not everyone is brilliant at everything. Stop comparing your journey to other people’s when it comes to strengths and weaknesses. It's easy to look at other people in in their careers and wish you were 'more like them' . Or want to be where they are.

When you do this, you’re taking the focus off yourself and not thinking about your strengths. You’re doing yourself a disservice.

Additionally, what you aren't seeing is the work, setbacks and time that has been put in to get there.

When you find yourself comparing yourself to other people, spend some time focusing and acknowledging your positive attributes and recognise and accept the work that is possibly needed on the things that might need improving.

3. Reflect

It is often the case that in a fast-paced work environment we are always looking to the next task, to the next piece of work or the next challenge. However, if you start reflecting (not ruminating over past errors) but really reflecting on what you have achieved, you will begin to feel empowered & this will support you in your journey to feeling more confident at work.

Try this: grab a pen and paper and write down the things that you’re proud of overcoming or achieving in the last 3 months.

To ensure this is done and not forgotten, block time in your diary, just 30 minutes is a start, and use the time to complete this activity every week, month or quarter. Booking the time in will remind you and make it easier to do it without thinking. Demonstrating your success in this way helps remind you to feel confident in the next new challenge. And ultimately, this will help you to feel more confident at work, as you understand your own achievements.

 4. Ask for challenges

Whether it’s your quarterly review or your weekly meetings - ask to be challenged. This could be signing up to a new course towards your personal development or being assigned a new project at work. 

Think about these challenges regarding your own development of both soft and hard skills. If you want to gain skills in a particular area, then ask to be challenged in an area that relates to the skill that is important to you.

You don't want to challenge yourself in learning a new software if you want to become better at public speaking.   

How to be more confident at work: Pushing yourself is an important way to begin understanding your self worth & also, to improve your self belief.

5. Daily acknowledgement 

At the end of every day - think of 2 things that you did well that day.

Make sure these are different each day!

This will challenge you to look hard at your strengths. Acknowledging our strengths can be difficult for some so I encourage you to lean into this and try it for at least 30 days.

The purpose of daily acknowledgement is to shine a light on the good in your day and, also on your strengths. It doesn't matter how big or small the task was; it's whatever you did well, not anyone else.

Be true to yourself and write something you believe in, not what you may think is the right thing to write. Changing your focus will effectively shape your outlook more generally (according to neuroscientists) so there are added benefits from doing this.

How to be more confident at work.

These steps will encourage you to build your self-confidence & ultimately, to feel more happy & secure at work.

Ensure that you always reflect on your achievements, whilst also looking forwards.

I write weekly blogs, so if you have enjoyed this & found it useful, please do check out some of my other blogs. I also post top tips on my Instagram :)

Sarah is a Career Change Coach. She helps women breakthrough and pivot in their career. Whether you're not networking, developing your own work or side hustle! Stop feeling like you don’t know where to start and reach out! 

Sarah has a Masters in Psychology and is both accredited by and a member of the British Psychological Society. She has experience working with the military and corporate sector in recovery, transition, leadership, and mentoring.