How to be More Confident in the Workplace

According to William Arruda, a personal branding expert and author of Ditch. Dare. Do!, confidence is important because it is the most attractive personal brand attribute. “When someone exudes confidence, we want to work with them.” This makes it incredibly important for us all to exude confidence in the workplace. But, this can often be easier said than done.

To help you build your professional confidence we’ve outlined a few of our tried and true confidence boosting tips.

1. Be self-aware and identify your strengths and weaknesses.
   Identify your weaknesses and create a plan to work on them. As you address these weaknesses and overcome them you’ll naturally gain more confidence.
2. Focus on you and your priorities while at work.
   Do your best to stay out of office politics and stay away from the rumor mills. Focus on your tasks and what you need to accomplish. Confidence will begin to emerge when you produce great work and have a great attitude.
3. Seek advice and encouragement from someone you trust.
   Find a mentor at your workplace or through a networking group to help guide you. No matter where you work or what job you have, there is always something you can learn from someone with more experience.

Check out W2W, a mentoring program from Dress for Success as an option.

4. Track your accomplishments.
   Make a to-do list everyday and cross things off your list when you’ve accomplished them. This will help you be more aware of your daily achievements.

In addition, keep a file on your computer of kudos, congratulatory comments, thank you letters, etc. Go back to these regularly as a reality check and remind yourself of your accomplishments.

5. Take notes into your meetings and presentations.
   “No one will fault you for bringing reference notes to a presentation, meeting with your boss, or conversation with a client,” says Jana Tulloch, founder of HR consulting company, Develop Intelligence. Taking notes into a meeting or presentation shows you’re prepared, thoughtful, and want to ensure you cover important points.
6. Look at people when you speak.
   “Confident people don’t shy away from eye contact. Look at people when you speak and more importantly, look at them when they speak,” says Evy Poumpouras, a former U.S. Secret Service agent. This shows that you are listening and care about what people have to say.
7. Slow down your speech.
   Hurried speech is a strong indication of nervousness and sends the message that what you have to say isn’t that important. Whereas slow, deliberate speech implies that you are thoughtful and what you say matters. Make a conscious effort to slow down when you’re speaking to help you exude confidence.
8. Dress for the part.
   Dressing for success will help you improve your confidence. When the image in your mirror aligns with the image you had in your head, you will begin to feel more confident.

If you are currently unemployed or underemployed, Dress for Success can help you find the perfect work wardrobe to boost your confidence.

9. Take classes, attend training sessions, and network.
   Continue developing your skill set through webinars, classes, conferences, and more. Learning new skills or continuing your education can have a lasting impact on your overall confidence. In addition, you can meet new people that can help you further your career.

Check out YES! Columbus’ events for education and networking opportunities.