Whether you’re starting out in a new company or have taken on a more senior role in your current business, there are many reasons why you may be feeling less than confident at work. For example, a recent study found that 70% of adults will experience workplace imposter syndrome at some point in their lives.
However, there are certain steps you can take to kick imposter syndrome (and other negative feelings to the curb) so that you feel as confident as possible at work. Doing so will help you to achieve great success, as you’re less likely to feel confined to any specific workplace boundaries and more likely to take the kind of risks that will help you get ahead.
With that in mind, here are some useful strategies that you can use to help you feel more confident at work!
Dress the part.
Various studies have found that the clothing we wear has a profound impact on both our mood and confidence. That’s often why you’re told to dress up for a job interview, as not only does it showcase your professionalism to the interviewer, it also puts you into the appropriate interview mindset, too.
As such, if you’re struggling to feel confident at work, it could be that you need to upgrade your wardrobe and start dressing the part. For example, if you work for a high-end company, you may benefit from starting to dress in a specific way, such as by shopping for clothes in old money style for men.
Remember that you are there for a reason.
The key to dealing with imposter syndrome often lies in your ability to find a way to silence the voice in your head that says you are not good enough. One way in which you can achieve this goal, and increase your confidence, is by remembering that you’re in your current role for a reason. If those around you did not think that you were capable or able to rise to the challenge, you would not have been offered this job in the first place.
Be open to learning something new.
Whether you’re hoping to become a better communicator, or want to deliver better sales pitches, one of the most effective ways to build your confidence is to ensure that you’re always open to learning something new. Don’t assume that just because you’ve worked in a specific role or company for a while that you know everything you need to know – especially as the workplace changes day by day. The more you open yourself to learning, the easier it will be to stay afloat (and ahead). In addition to this, it also means that you can continue to pad out your CV or resume, developing a range of transferable and often crucial skills that will help you to take the next step in your career.
Ask for feedback.
Asking for feedback is another great way to increase your confidence at work. After all, if you receive positive feedback, it means that you can give yourself a pat on the back and will likely walk into the office the next day with your head held high. If you receive constructive criticism, you’re able to put a plan in place to make things better, which in turn, will help you to build your confidence once again. While it can be hard to take on criticism, try to take it as an opportunity to do better rather than something personal!
Challenge yourself as often as possible.
It’s easy to get stuck into a routine at work and, while this can go a long way toward managing your workload effectively, it can sometimes stand in your way of achieving great things. This is because it often means that you become too comfortable in your position, and are less and less likely to step outside of your comfort zone each passing day. This means that you’re much more likely to deal with self-doubt and anxiety when presented with a challenge, as you’re not used to taking these leaps any longer.
Conversely, when you find new and innovative ways to push and challenge yourself on a weekly basis, you’ll feel much more confident in approaching new tasks and duties. Furthermore, when you succeed in the face of this kind of adversity or struggle, your confidence will naturally begin to climb!
Practice positive self-talk.
Sometimes, we’re our own worst enemies when it comes to our confidence. As such, you should be mindful about the way in which you think about yourself and the work you carry out. Each time you catch yourself slipping into a negative frame of mind, try to stop the thoughts in their tracks by replacing them with something positive.
For example, instead of saying (internally or otherwise) that you simply lack the skills to complete a certain task, try to reframe the way in which you’re approaching the situation. Instead, remind yourself that you’ve encountered similar challenges before and that you’ve always come out on the other side. Complement your ability to think on your feet to find a solution, or any skills that you have that will help you work through this challenge.
While this can be a difficult habit to formulate, over time, you’ll find that your attitude (both to yourself and your work) will become inherently more positive. Not only will this mean that you’ll be much more confident at work, but you’ll also be able to encourage others to do the same. This will help you to curate the kind of working environment where every person thrives!
Leave workplace competition behind.
When dealing with low confidence in the workplace, it is important that you do not compare yourself to your colleagues. After all, while you may work in similar roles, you’re not experiencing life (or work) in the exact same way. Furthermore, it’s important that you remember you’re working with each other, not against each other. Being able to do so means that you’ll increase your own feelings of self-worth, while once again contributing to a positive workplace environment.
