How to Improve Confidence in the Workplace

Why is confidence important in the workplace? Let’s be honest; at one time or another, we haven’t been too confident (or kind!) to ourselves, especially in the workplace. Self-confidence is a muscle that we often and easily forget to exercise and strengthen; however, we can tell pretty fast when it’s weak or non-existent. 

Here are four different exercises to practice daily to help strengthen your self-confidence in the workplace, and help you be a little more kind to yourself and to your mind.

Battle the Negative Talk

Your biggest competitor in your growth mindset is you. Allowing yourself to mull over negative thoughts closes your mind off to new opportunities. Remember; you can’t learn or grow without going through tough or new experiences!

Your boss hands you a new project that you’ve never done before? Take that time to learn something new and add a new skill to your tool belt. A client is constantly sending back critiques and changes? Instead of grumbling or thinking you’re bad at your job, think of it as a sign to revisit the client’s vision and reevaluate the project goal. 

Practicing a positive mindset will transform how you take criticism, direct your focus in a positive way, and encourage yourself to give others (and yourself) grace. 

Set Goals

Without setting goals, you’re traveling to a destination without a map to help you get there. Setting short-term and long-term goals will give you the power and freedom to make career decisions to elevate you to where you want to be. 

First, think about several long-term goals for yourself professionally. Once you have the general idea of where you want to go, think of some realistic ways to help you get there. Then, set some short-term goals to accomplish in the next month or two that will help you achieve that long-term goal. 

Attending educational or networking events, achieving a financial goal, or completing a project or two can give you the wind beneath your wings to get you to where you need to go!

Take Stress to the Curb

Stress… the silent-but-deadly success killer. Sometimes, stress is visible and apparent in our lives; loud noises or crowded environments, sickness, moving to a new home, or unexpected circumstances. 

However, the deadly thing about stress is that it can slowly creep into our personal and professional lives if we aren’t proactive in minimizing stress. Crunched deadlines, busy schedules, high expectations, and neglecting relationships can slowly add more and more weight on our shoulders until we snap. 

That being said, it’s important to find your stress-reliever. Find an activity that channels the stressful energy, so the weight can be taken off your shoulders and your body can recharge. 

Some ways to release your stress include:

1. Move your body

Take up a new sport like tennis, golf, pickleball, beach volleyball, swimming, or any sport you enjoy! Or, plan out a workout sequence, or follow a coach to stick with a plan at a gym, yoga studio, or workout program.

2. Catch up with a loved one

Without realizing it, stress can take a toll on our relationships with our friends, family, and coworkers. It may be time to schedule a coffee date, phone call/FaceTime, or share a meal with someone you love.

3. Pick up or revisit a hobby

When’s the last time you did something by yourself that made you feel at peace and happy? Time to produce some endorphins by picking up that paintbrush, finishing a puzzle, listening to music, or whatever hobby that you enjoy!

4. Delegate, delegate, delegate

If you wear many hats, it might be time to give a hat or two to someone else. You’ve heard the phrase, “know your limits.” Remember that there are only so many hours in a day and so much energy you have. It’s okay to ask for help and pass along tasks to someone else.

Not only will it help you stay on task and alleviate your stress, it will also signal to others that you trust them to help get tasks done.

5. Make time for your hygiene, chores, and catching up on life

Always feel rushed in the mornings when you’re getting ready for the day? Don’t feel like you have time to pick up around the house or clean out your car? You’ll be amazed at how much better you’ll feel when you set aside extra time to organize your house, tidy up your car, and slow down your routine.

In a go-go-go world, add an element of “slow” to bring balance to quiet your spirit and mind so you can get back on that grind.

6. Improve your body language

Have you ever been able to just tell someone is confident just by watching them? The first indicator is often their physical body language. Practice confident body language in the mirror or record yourself, so you can practice what you need to work on. 

Make eye contact, don’t fidget with your hands, practice good posture and avoid sentence filler words (i.e. “um”, “like”, “just”, etc.). Try utilizing confident phrases into your everyday vocabulary, such as:

1. “Thank you for your feedback.”
2. “I don’t know the answer to that, but I’ll find out!”
3. “I don’t have the capacity at the moment.”
4. “Thank you for your time with this.”
5. “I think,” or, “I believe…”

Why is Confidence Important in The Workplace?

Becoming confident in the workplace doesn’t happen overnight. Just like developing strong muscles, it takes intentionality and consistent effort to exude confidence.

Everyday, work on these four steps and before you know it, you’ll watch your professional life grow to new heights! Don’t forget to make time for yourself, battle the silent-but-deadly killer, and plan out your goals.

Need help making those professional goals for your business? Contact us today about how we can help you with your roadmap for success!