8 WAYS TO TRAIN YOUR CONFIDENCE AT WORK

Recent studies by the consulting firm KPMG reveal a startling statistic- 75% of women battle feelings of self-doubt in their careers. That’s 3 out of 4 women in the workplace dealing with challenges related to self-confidence. 

However, it is often misunderstood by women that self-doubt is exclusive to their gender. While women do experience it more often due to social expectations and persistent gender biases in both their communities and companies, it is essential to understand that these challenges and not faced by just women alone. From the great entrepreneurs of Silicon Valley to renowned US presidents like George Washington and Abraham Lincoln have doubted their decisions. 

According to several studies, it has been proven that success is related to competence in equal measure to self-confidence which in fact can be trained like a muscle, the more you use it, the better it works due to the neuroplasticity in our brains. Regardless of gender, the best way to start is by training it. Not doing so can result in our professional and personal ambitions being frustrated regardless of how much effort put in.

 This article explores eight practical ways to enhance confidence at work, here are some tips to train it:

1. Write down three good things you do at work every day.

 Sheryl Sandberg, former COO of META Platforms practiced this relentlessly to get over her issues with self-doubt and be able to use her full potential and deliver work she was satisfied with. According to neuroscience studies at The University of Berkeley, this is how the brain is trained to focus on the positive. 

2. Action, action, and action.

In-depth studies outlined in the book ‘The Confident Code’ emphasize the detrimental effects of overthinking which contributes to a ‘confidence gap’. Tackle this by taking decisive actions without excessive contemplation. Actively engaging in tasks helps build confidence through practical experience. 

3. Know yourself in depth.

Media Mogul Oprah Winfrey says, “you can’t move freely, speak openly, act freely unless you are comfortable with yourself”. Spend time getting to know who you are, what your strengths and weaknesses are, and what you have achieved so far.

4. Train non-stop.

We have to make decisions even if the possibility of failure is always hovering over our heads. According to Arianna Huffington, founder of The Huffington Post and Thrive Global, “The more I exercise it, the more natural it is for me to not let fears rule me”. 

5. Speak first.

According to one of the leaders of Silicon Valley quoted by Forbes Magazine, it is better to speak first to overcome speech anxiety. 

6. Challenge your inner critic with humour.

If you can’t defeat it, at least learn that within us, along with the critical voice, a positive one is also present. According to Tarah Mohr, women’s leadership expert in her book "Play Big", combating the critical inner voice involves treating it as a separate entity, laugh at it and diminish its impact. 

7. Try it again.

Learning to fail and getting back up after is important to be able to be successful in what you do. Acknowledge that setbacks are part of the journey and face them as opportunities for growth. 

8. Overcome perfectionism.

Above all, the greatest enemy- perfectionism paralyses us and kills our confidence along with it. Understand that perfectionism is unattainable, and the pursuit of it can paralyze progress. Learn from mistakes and focus on continuous improvement rather than impossible perfection.
8 WAYS TO TRAIN YOUR CONFIDENCE AT WORK

Supporting women to build their confidence is directly linked to fostering women empowerment and diversity in the workplace. By putting these eight strategies into action, individuals can build a more inclusive and supportive environment.
Now it’s your turn, how are you going to make a positive change?
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