5 Tips for Building Confidence and Self-Esteem at Work

We’ve all been there. You’re at work, feeling like you don’t quite fit in—or worse yet, like everyone is judging your every move. The truth is, confidence isn’t a magic wand that you wave and suddenly have it all together. It takes time, practice, and patience. So if you’re feeling stuck or lack self-esteem at work don’t worry! Here are five tips to help you build your confidence with grace and ease. 

1) Know That You Belong: This may sound obvious but sometimes we feel like an impostor in our own lives. Remind yourself that your presence matters and you do belong here! You deserve to be here just as much as anyone else. Make sure your inner voice reflects this same message; instead of saying “I don’t know what I’m doing here,” think “I am learning something new every day and I am growing as a professional.” 

2) Listen To Your Inner Voice: If you really listen to that critical voice in your head, the one telling you that you can’t or shouldn’t do something… it’s not really YOUR voice. It’s someone else’s voice—a parent, teacher, etc.—that you’ve internalized over time. Start to recognize whose opinion is whose by staying mindful of the voices inside your head telling stories about who you are or aren’t capable of being. 

3) Don’t Take Things Personally: When people are harsh or make criticism towards us, it can be easy to take things personally and begin doubting ourselves or our capabilities. Instead try deflection – refocus on their comments as objectively as possible so that they no longer affect how you feel about yourself. Remember – their words are not a reflection on how great (or not great) of a person YOU are… they’re just words they chose to use in the moment!  

4) Celebrate Small Wins: Celebrating small wins helps build momentum over time which will eventually lead to bigger wins down the road! Acknowledge even the tiniest successes—did you speak up in a meeting? Did someone thank you for a job well done? Focus on these little moments because they add up! 

5) Put Yourself Out There & Be Social: Networking can be intimidating but having social connections at work can make all the difference when it comes to building confidence and feeling comfortable with yourself professionally. So reach out and introduce yourself to new people – attend networking events if they come up – get out of your comfort zone! It will pay off more than you know.

BONUS TIP: That part from the beginning where we talked about “feeling like everyone is judging your every move?” Here’s a secret: everyone feels like that to some degree. And if they’re all preoccupied with what others are thinking of them, guess what they don’t have a lot of extra time for? Worrying about what you’re doing! So the next time you wonder what someone thinks about you, just remember, they’re probably thinking about what you might think about them! Let them off the hook and tell them! “Hey, I really liked the way you handled that problem.” (or whatever).        

Building self-esteem isn’t easy but it’s definitely worth it! With practice and patience, these five tips can help boost your confidence levels so that next time someone says something unkind or intimidating, instead of believing them – you’ll hear them for what they actually are – just words spoken by someone else who does not understand the power of YOU 🙂 Now go forth into the world knowing that YOU BELONG HERE and YOU ARE WORTHY OF GREATNESS!!! Happy conquering.