Research has confirmed that many women tend to feel insecure at work. Truth is, being a woman in the corporate work environment can be hard. You may face a lot of struggles like dealing with an intimidating boss, feeling inadequate and the constant need to prove yourself; all obstacles that can hinder your success and performance at work. When you start developing those feelings and insecurities, it can stop you from asking for a pay rise, going after that promotion or even promoting your ideas!
Luckily, there are a few things you can do to boost your confidence at work and help you come off more poised. I certainly have used some of these techniques in championing myself.
Know your strengths and weaknesses
A reason why you might be feeling insecure about your work is that you focus heavily on your weaknesses rather than your strengths. Your mind is a powerful muscle; what will eventually attract what you focus on. If you constantly focus on the things you don’t do so well on, you will lose track of what you’re really good at. It’s not to say you shouldn’t be conscious of your shortcomings however instead of dwelling on it, find a way to improve it.
Focus on your successes
Keeping a list of all your achievements is a good way to motivate yourself. Achievements should be celebrated. Whether it is introducing a new process at work, working on an important project, launch a successful campaign. Take a moment to pause, let it soak in and most importantly reward yourself for it.
Ask questions
No one knows it all! No matter what stage you are in your career; whether you’re a veteran employee or new at your job, you’re never going to have all the answers. That is okay. Don’t feel shy to ask about something you are not sure about. As the saying goes, “He who asks a question is a fool for five minutes; he who does not ask a question remains a fool forever.”
Increase your knowledge
It might seem obvious, but something a lot of people overlook. Especially when you are starting out in your career, you focus on getting to grips with things, but you build confidence by learning more. Read more, attend conferences and seminars, watch TED talks. Confidence grows when you act on what you know.
Keep notes
Always readily have your notepad with you. Whether you’re having a meeting at work or attending a conference, get in the habit of writing notes. Not only will you have a point of reference for further discussion but will make sure that you accurately capture information (you wouldn’t want to send an email without the correct facts!). Research show that when we write things down, we have a higher chance of remembering that information correctly.
Let me know what other things you learnt to do to boost your confidence at work below.
R x