11 ways to feel more confident at work

WE ALL have to fake it to make it at some stage. So here’s 11 sure-fire ways to boost your confidence at work.

If there’s one person who exudes confidence at work it’s Chelsea Peretti’s character in TV show Brooklyn Nine-Nine.

CONFIDENCE fluctuates. Whether you’re faking it or making it — here are 11 tips for boosting your confidence at work.

1. KNOW YOUR STRENGTHS

Few people are brilliant at everything. Find your strengths and play to them. You can fix your weaknesses, but you should be shouting about your strengths and putting your hand up at every chance to show them off.

2. DON’T BE SCARED TO BE WRONG

Most bosses don’t just want yes-man around them (some do, make sure you know which one yours is!). Nobody got famous by playing it safe. Put your ideas forward; show you’re thinking not just doing. And if an idea is knocked back, move on and think about your next one.

3. PREPARE

I’m not just talking about pitches or presentations. An informal coffee with a client, a social event with your boss, a weekly WIP — be prepared. What do you want to say, project and achieve in those five minutes, on the cab journey, in the 30 minute ‘catch up’.

4. ACCEPT COMPLIMENTS

If someone says “Well done,” do NOT mumble “oh it was nothing”. Say “Thank you [insert boss-name]. I worked really hard on that. I’m so pleased with that result, can’t wait to do it again”. Do you want them to get excited about your next success or have forgotten what you did by lunchtime?

5. LOOK YOUR BEST EVERY DAY

I’m not saying suddenly start wearing a suit to work if that’s not the done thing in your office, this is about how you feel and your style. Plan your week’s outfits in advance. If you’re tired, wearing your best trackie dacks to work will not fill your boss with confidence, and assumptions will be made.

So dress in whatever way makes you feel most confident, not comfortable. To put it in industry terms — dress as if you’re going to a pitch, every day.

6. SIT IN THE RIGHT SPOT

There are so many simple things you can do to get noticed at work (that’s another cheat sheet). For the confidence piece, get to meetings early and sit in the spot opposite whoever’s hosting the meeting. Not next to them. Not in the corner. Not standing at the back messing about with your phone.

Know what the meeting’s about, have an idea in your head about one thing you want to say, and choose your spot wisely.

7. IMPOSTOR SYNDROME

This is very common. People feel like at any point they’re going to get found out. That they’re winging it, or aren’t the best man for the job, or “I just fell into this role”.

The point is someone hired you for that role, and unless you’re being managed out (which you’ll know about) then no one else thinks you’re faking it, so you must be doing something right, right?

8. POSITIVE MOTIVATION

As cheesy as it sounds to some, this works. This could be in your head, a motivational quote on your desk, sign up to a daily quote email — if it resonates with you, it will affect your mood, which effects how you project yourself, which effects how people see you, which will affect your confidence. Write down your achievements. Make eye contact. Hold your head high.

9. LET IT GO

The point is if something goes wrong, or someone makes a comment that knocks you — take a moment. Give yourself a 15 minute pity party; you’ll be surprised how much pity it takes to fill 15 minutes. Then spin it, deal with it, and forget about it. Sulking, raging or losing confidence are all things you can control.

10. HAVE A PLAN

Plan your day — realistically — and your week in advance.

Write down tomorrow’s list before you leave today. And when you’re on your way to work, plan what you’re going to say when you get home and your partner/flatmate/cat asks you what awesome stuff you did today. Having that picture in your head can be a powerful thing.

11. SMILE

Because it makes you feel better. People will like you more. And because true confidence emanates from people with purpose, control and a smile for everyone.

Kate Savage is a Career Coach and Workplace Behaviour Consultant.