There are many reasons you can lack confidence at work. Maybe you’re in a job that requires skills you don’t have, or you’re less experienced than anyone around you. Or you’re new to the company and feel uneasy about your ability to succeed. Or you feel threatened by colleagues, fear losing your job, or are simply too hard on yourself. Public humiliation and errors in judgment can also do the trick.
There’s just one most common reason, though, says Lynn Taylor, a national workplace expert and author of Tame Your Terrible Office Tyrant: “Overall, the most common reason that employees lose confidence is very simply because of a bad relationship with their boss.”
Negative peer relationships also often disrupt confidence, especially if there’s a pack mentality. A group may feel threatened and try to undermine a worker. But since managers hold significant influence over an employee’s future, the quality of that relationship has the greatest impact on confidence levels.
The good news is that you can manage behavior around you to improve relations, boosting both your self-esteem and your career. When you are more assertive, you will be taken more seriously if your words and action have conviction. This will help you advance in your job and career. However, there is a fine line between confidence and arrogance, so be sure you don’t overcompensate by getting egotistical during moments of low self-esteem.
A healthy level of confidence will make you more likely to engage in challenging but manageable projects, will help you get outside your comfort zone, and allow you to achieve new goals—all valued characteristics of successful workers. Employers will know that they can trust you with a project and that you are likely to motivate others effectively.
Confidence is important because it is the most attractive personal brand attribute. When someone exudes confidence, others want to work with them and are more likely to follow their lead. Confidence is also a key leadership quality. If you are a decisive person with the credentials to back it up, you will be better positioned to advance in a company.
Without confidence you won’t stand out, you won’t be assigned great projects, and you’re less likely to be recognized or get raises, bonuses, and promotions.
More and more, employees are the face of the company. When employees are confident, they are better spokespeople for the company. With a lean workforce, companies need everyone engaged and inspired. Lack of confidence impedes full engagement.
Employers benefit from confident workers because they are more positive contributors, more productive, good motivators and make great role models. Self-assured employees, particularly in customer-facing or sales positions, directly contribute to brand perception. Companies want to put their best foot forward, projecting leadership and confidence—and employees represent the parts to the whole.
Good employees spend a lot of time being modest. Sometimes we actually feel that way, and sometimes we don’t but think that’s how we’re supposed to act so that other people will like us. At times, though, other people don’t view us as talented or as worthy because we don’t appear to view ourselves that way.
If you have low self-esteem or your confidence has been threatened in some way, here’s what the experts say you can do to strengthen your backbone and boost morale:
Stay focused on you
You should do the best you can to stay on-task and focused, regardless of politics, rumor mills or non-productive maneuvers that are as common as the office water cooler. Confidence emerges from time-honored good work combined with a great attitude.
Identify your strengths and capitalize on them
One of the best ways to build confidence is to get clear on your strengths and find ways to integrate those strengths into what you do every day. When you lead from your strengths, you’re engaged and energized. Once you take inventory of the things you do better than anyone else, ask yourself how you can use those strengths to do your job. If your current role does not give you opportunities to maximize your strengths, think about other roles that will.
Identify weaknesses, and work on them
If there are weaknesses that are affecting your confidence, make a plan to reduce or eliminate them. You shouldn’t obsess over these things—but know that addressing your weaknesses and making a diligent effort to overcome them can help boost confidence.
Believe in yourself
It may be easier said than done, but try to tell yourself “I can do this,” and believe it. Try saying three affirmations to yourself each night before going to bed—telling yourself three things that you like about yourself or three things that went well that day.
