How to pull off confidence at work
Finding your feet in the workplace is often difficult enough; but tackling the age-old confidence vs. arrogance issue is challenging, still. There’s a fine line between being confident and being arrogant, and although they have some similarities, the camp you fall into can determine your career’s success.
It’s fair to say that nobody likes a show-off. However, despite what certain feature films might tell you, being a wallflower doesn’t usually have many perks – in the workplace, at least. So, how can you best tread the tightrope between the two?
Stop comparing yourself to others
The biggest confidence killer, at work or socially, is trying to measure up to the people around you. It’s important to remember that you have been chosen for your job/project/promotion for a reason, and if other people believe in you, you should, too!
Be comfortable
A little preparation can help to ensure you keep your nerves at bay. Checking your teeth and hair in the mirror before entering the office and making sure you feel confident in your outfit choice will mean that you spend less time worrying about how you look and more time on the task in hand. Taking your mind off the possibility of looking silly and being engaged with your audience will make any project 100% more successful.
Listen more than you speak
A major trait of arrogant people is thinking they don’t have any more to learn. Whether you’re just starting out or are the CEO of a company, you are never finished learning, so be prepared to listen. Even if you don’t agree with someone’s idea, you’ll be far more respected if you consider it, rather than brush it off without a second thought.
Timing is key
When you’re in a big group, there’s no reason why you should play down your accomplishments. If you want to avoid appearing arrogant, just be careful how you phrase your merits. Rather than reeling off your achievements, ask leading questions, such as “Have you done many of these projects before?” This way, you’re taking an interest in other people, and they are likely to return the question, allowing you to talk about your experiences without hogging the conversation.
Make mistakes
We wouldn’t encourage you to make whopping errors at work, but confident people are usually successful because they aren’t afraid to be wrong. How many times have you missed out on the praise for your thought or idea because you were too shy to share it before someone else jumped in? Go for it, and if you’re wrong, the only person who will mind is you, so move on to the next great idea!
Ask for help
Arrogant people will often struggle for hours rather than admit that they find something difficult. If you’re really finding something tough, it’s far more time efficient to seek help. Believe it or not but most people respect a co-worker who isn’t afraid to admit that they don’t know it all. After all, the more you learn, the more confident you will become in your abilities.
Be sincere
Throwing compliments around may seem like a sure-fire way to gain popularity, but beware of insincerity. Empty compliments and artificial laughter scream arrogance and will quickly alienate the people around you. A genuine, warm smile, as well as eye contact will take you much further and colleagues are more likely to co-operate and open up to you.
In all, it’s important to remember that standing out from the crowd is the best way to further your career, but make sure you stand out for all the right reasons! Would you rather be seen by many as arrogant or be seen by a few as a woman of intelligence and integrity? We know which we’d rather be!
