By Bimbola Segun-Amao
I define confidence as a blend of competence and self assurance, a mixture of courage and strength. True confidence comes when competence and self assurance are balanced with each other. Self-assurance can be mistaken for confidence but that alone is not enough to be confident; self assurance is your belief (or not) that you have the ability to complete a task. You would need enough competence- the needed skill to get the task done to boost your assurance. You could believe you are able to carry out a task but do not have the skills to actually carry through, in that case, you are self assured but don’t have the competence.
Confidence is important to one’s well being and productivity because it improves job satisfaction and brings about full utilization of one’s potentials.
How confident are you?
Do you have your comfort zone and don’t come out of there?
Do you detest new tasks or taking new challenges?
Do you have a need to fix or cover up your mistakes so that others would not be aware of them?
Do you have a need to always please the people around?
Do you manage your behavior based on what other people think?
Are you aware of your weaknesses or do you feel awful when people point out your weaknesses?
Are you always shy in groups or board meetings and never find your voice when it’s time to contribute?
If you have answered yes to more than 2 of the questions, you would need to boost your self- confidence.
Here are some ideas to boosting confidence in the workplace
1. Analyze your job descriptions.
Does it align with your natural skills or acquired skills? When we lead from strength, we’re engaged and energized; we are self assured that the tasks are achievable. If your current role does not give you opportunities to maximize your strength, think about other roles that will. Talk to your supervisor about it, if that won’t help you may need to acquire the skills needed for the role you find yourself now or go find another role that would allow you maximize your strength.
2. Come up with initiatives and take credit for it.
Think, think, and think! And after you have thought hard, don’t keep your idea or initiatives to yourself. Share it with your manager or supervisor. If he is excited about it and he thinks it will fly, make sure you take credit for it. In the work place, you have to blow your own trumpet or no one will blow it for you. Taking credits for your initiatives boosts your self esteem; others would appreciate your brain-child and also recognize your abilities. Everyone needs some compliments including you.
3. Identify your weaknesses and work on them.
The best of leaders have their own Achilles heels, so do you. Identify your weaknesses, and be ready to work on them. As much as you are working on your weaknesses, capitalize on your strength. Don’t take up challenges that would blow out your weakness.
4. Take up new challenges and keep track of your success.
The only way to know how strong you are is to keep testing on your limit. Do something you would normally not want to do, try out a new project and don’t be quick to judge yourself, babies fall when learning to walk but they keep on all the same. Keep a journal of your day-to-day new achievements and you’ll be amazed at those things that you have accomplished.
5. Be intentional in form.
Yes, dress intentionally, walk intentionally, and sit intentionally. Clothes don’t make men but it improves our confidence, when you know you are well dressed, you carry yourself with brazing smiles and you feel self-assured. Make efforts to flatter your body with properly fitted clothes ALL THE TIME. Have you noticed the way CEO’s walk? They walk like “I-have-got-a-mission”. Walk like that, it boozes energy and when you sit, sit like the boss; upright, not slouching. Practice good posture to feel more alert, more confident and more powerful. Groom your hair and nails, appear prim and appropriate all the time.
6. Be interested in others.
Don’t keep to yourself alone at work. Join in conversations, smile at people and be genuinely interested in activities going on around you at work without crossing boundaries.
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