Self-Confidence Building at Work

Many people struggle to feel confident with their abilities in their jobs. To put it another way, many people wish they were more self-confident in their work, handling difficult situations, and dealing with coworkers. If you are one of these people, you are definitely not alone. So what can you do to feel more self-assured in your job?

First of all, keep in mind that your identity is not your job. In other words, if you were to make a mistake on your job, this certainly doesn't mean that you as a person are dumb, worthless, or even that you are in the wrong position. It is very easy to take personally mistakes that are made on the job and then seeing it as a reflection of yourself rather than what it truly is: a mistake. It may not seem like it to you, but everyone makes mistakes at some point. The solution in dealing with mistakes is taking responsibility for it immediately and offer some solutions to fix the mistake. This shows your boss that you are honest and looking for ways to rectify the mistake. When you act honestly it is the best solution because it makes you feel better about yourself and it is best for the company that you told them immediately.

Many people feel insecure around their coworkers. They may feel as though they do not fit in, unsure how to handle conflict, or how to communicate with an overbearing coworker or manager. These feelings can take a toll on your self-esteem. It can get to the point where you do not think you have anything to offer your group, be it on projects or socially; you may also avoid conflict and allow coworkers and bosses to walk all over you. If socializing is the issue, you will need to step out from your comfort zone. Of course, this doesn't mean you take on a huge company gathering, but you take small steps in opening conversations with your coworkers. You will be surprised that you actually have things in common. When you ask questions of other people it is a great way to start a conversation, but make sure the questions require more than a yes or no answer.

If you are dealing with difficult coworkers or conflict resolution, taking the time to learn effective communication techniques may be your only answer. You might want to take a course in dealing with difficult people or conflict resolution. Keep in mind that most overbearing people have many insecurities and these are the very cause of their behavior. If you find yourself in the middle of conflict, try to avoid an argument. Do not give the other person a "reward" by you becoming upset or backing down. If you need to, explain that you will pick up the conversation after everyone has a chance to calm down. Negative coworkers are never fun to deal with. Remember, your self-worth is not determined by your coworker's approval, even if it is your boss.

Perhaps you are not feeling confident about your skills. This is easy to fix - learn more! Most companies offer some kind of education, such as continuing ed, and often they have tuition reimburse, or they offer in-house training. If your employer is offering it, take full advantage of it. If you work for a smaller company that doesn't offer these educational opportunities, find books on the subjects you want to learn about. Seek advice from your coworkers or get input from any professional associations you may belong to; often peers have the best advice on what is worthwhile.

Lastly, challenge yourself. This is a great way to build self-confidence on the job: take on extra work or a special project. If you select something that is of great interest or you have a lot of knowledge on, you will be able to prove to yourself and colleagues that you can produce excellent results. Even if you do not succeed, you still are showing the initiative and are willing to take on different projects. When you know you put yourself out there instead of just siting in your comfort zone, it can definitely boost your confidence.