Do you want to feel confident when you do your job? Of course you do! Everyone should have self-confidence while they’re at work, so learning how to build self-esteem is actually an essential aspect of your professional life. Having confidence is key, not only to feel good but to get the job you’re being paid to do done — after all, it’s called ‘employee of the month,’ not ‘self-doubter of the month.’
There are certain things you can focus on to feel confident at work, in fact, here are ten ways you can build on your self-esteem in the workplace:
Don’t hate on yourself
Nobody likes a hater, especially when that person is yourself! That’s why the first thing you’ll want to do in order to feel confident at work is to cut down on negative language. Telling yourself that you can’t do something, that you’re not good at something, or that you don’t deserve the job you have is never a good place to start. This sort of consistent negative self-deprecating can actually reflect in your work, and the way you interact with your co-workers. In general, it’s not a good look.
We’re talking about practice
Don’t feel like you have something mastered? That’s fine, no one masters something on the first try! What it takes is practice, and you should never confuse a lack of immediate success with a lack of skill. Understand that your work takes time, and practice is key to getting better and better. The sky is the limit, after all!
Always be developing
The worst thing you can do for your self-confidence at work is to get stuck in a rut. If you feel burnt out, or feel like you’re just not good at you job anymore, it will make you feel less and less confident. That’s why you should always be looking towards developing new skills so that you avoid the troublesome professional burnout. Try looking into professional development courses, or even things outside of your work life that you’ve always been interested in (coding, for example).
Focus on your strengths
Really understand that in order to feel confident, you have to be confident. You definitely have strengths, seeing as how you wouldn’t have a job without them. Focus on these strengths and the skills you’ve developed. You don’t have to be cocky, but you can certainly be confident.
Ask and you shall receive
Do you feel like you’re not getting something, or you’re not experiencing success in the way you imagined? Asking questions is an easy way to get to the heart of the issue and work towards improvement. Not only is it an endearing quality for a manager/boss to see you asking questions, because it shows development, but it can help you feel more confident in handling tasks. Don’t go it alone, ask for help!
Focus on success, but seek feedback
Okay, so you’re feeling confident, you’ve got a good idea of processes and how to do your job, but in order to really build your self-esteem in the workplace, you’ve got to seek feedback. Feedback is an essential aspect of confidence because it’s a mechanism which provides you with the opportunity to move forward. Ask for feedback, seek it out, see how you’re doing, and build on your abilities.
Begin (and gladly take on) each new task with confidence
Has your boss asked you if you’re interested in taking on a new client or project? Take it, better yet, take it with a smile! There’s nothing better for your confidence than added responsibility, within reason, because it gives you the opportunity to prove your value, and to recognize your value. Ready to take on a new challenge? You bet you are!
Have a good time!
Work doesn’t have to be boring, monotonous, and soul-crushing! You should take the time to enjoy work, and the feeling you get from coming into your office, and leaving every night, should be a good one. If you’re having fun, or trying to have fun, it will show off in your work and in your interactions with co-workers. You’ll be the life of the (office) party.
Manage your professional environment
Be honest and expressive with your co-workers. Don’t talk bad about yourself, but let them know what you’re good at, and what needs work. The thing you want to do here is to dispel expectations or assumptions about what you can and can’t do. You work with these people every day, so if you want to feel confident you absolutely have to be honest.
Believe in mutual confidence and support
A workplace is always supposed to be a team environment. You are certainly accountable, but you’re also reliant on other people to get their jobs done. If you believe in support, in a familial bond with your co-workers, it can help you feel confident in what you’re doing. You don’t need to use your co-workers as a crutch, but every now and again it’s good to have someone to lean on, you know?
Your professional journey is unique to you, but you should always be seeking to come home at the end of the day feeling good, and like you have earned where you are in your professional life. With these tips, you should have a good start on feeling confident and building self-esteem in the workplace.
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