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Assert Yourself

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3 Building confidence at work

Confidence is a cornerstone of assertiveness. For those who are blessed with it, its unremarkable. For
those who do not have it, its an extraordinarily difficult quality to develop and sustain.

We all have moments when our confidence blossomswhen we feel good about ourselves, have the
knowledge we need to overcome any doubts, and are able to achieve any goal, however large or small.
So we know what we are missing when confidence is lacking and, in the act of noticing its absence, we
diminish the possibility of bringing it back to the surface.

Fear is the main emotion that undermines confidence. We can become flustered purely by the what if
scenarios that we conjure up in our minds. It is this irrational fear that needs to be addressed because,
until it is dealt with, you wont have the confidence to assert yourself fully.

Step one: Know your job

Confidence cannot be put on like a coatit has to be rooted firmly in the psyche. If you play-act at having
confidence, it comes across as empty or brash. It may help you get through a situation, but it wont fuel the
development of this quality in the longer term. Unfortunately, building confidence requires hard work.
Confidence comes from knowing what to do, how to do it, and when to do it. This know-how may be learned
in a college or university setting, or it may have been developed on the job. Knowledge allows you to work
within clear boundaries of competence. You will then become recognised for your abilities, reinforcing your
self-image and building your confidence.

If you are put into a different job where you dont have the same level of familiarity, your confidence may
be shaken. In this case, focus first on your transferable skills before developing the other abilities you will
require.

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People often lose their confidence when promoted or transferred, and many are tempted to go back to
their old comfort zone. If a return route is not open to them, they may try superimposing familiar
habits onto their new role. If you are suffering this kind of anxiety, ask for feedback or coaching to
enable you to expand your skills and build the confidence you need to succeed.

Step two: Establish clear objectives

Confidence often increases with success, and success can only be proven when a goal or objective has been
reached. Clear objectives allow you to monitor your progress and adjust your focus in order to achieve your
aims.

Dont be afraid to ask for targets from your manager. Without this level of clarity, you could be prevented
from enjoying success because no one has defined success in that context. Without objectivesand therefore
without successespeoples enthusiasm and level of energy diminish, along with their confidence.

Make sure your targets are clearly defined so that your criteria for success are unambiguous. Poorly
articulated objectives cause more personal grief in organisations than almost anything else. Its incredibly
disconcerting to find that you are pouring energy into a professional void.

Step three: Unite authority and accountability

Nothing is more disheartening than taking the blame for something that is not your fault. Such knock-backs
are damaging to confidence and motivation. Being accountable for failure without having the authority to
make decisions can be extremely stressful.

Talk to your boss and colleagues in order to define the boundaries and responsibilities of your role. You
may need to explain that this is not an attempt to avoid accountability, but rather an initiative to clarify your
goals and thereby focus your efforts.

Confidence comes from a job well done, so make sure that your stated objectives are dependent on your
own performance, not that of others. If you are accountable for a project, you will take full credit for its
successand you will also be more motivated to make sure things run smoothly.
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Dont worry if you fall short of your targets at first. If you show improvement, your progress will be
recognised. Always keep your results in perspective and take heart in your development.

Step four: Work on your personal development

Many organisations these days place responsibility for learning and development on the employee. However,
its worth reminding your employer that if you improve your skills, the company will benefit too. When a
business invests in its people, it has a very positive effect on employees confidence and their ability to
contribute to the organisations success.

Enquire about your companys policy on training. It may even be mentioned in your employment contract.
You might find that they offer assistance you werent aware of. Organisational support is often given in the
form of advice, mentoring, time off for study, or participation in special projects.

Learning and development should be jointly planned and agreed upon by you and your organisation. This
way, your new skills will be tailored to suit your job.

Explore the options. External training programmes may be the appropriate solution, especially when there
are specialist skills or areas of knowledge that need to be developed.

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One of the essential ingredients of confidence is good communication. If you feel that you can
communicate effectively in any situationconveying thoughts to colleagues, building rapport with
difficult clients, getting through to senior management, and so onyour level of confidence will be high.
It is therefore worth considering a course that will develop your communication skills.

Step five: Celebrate

Celebrations are very important. They are a way of acknowledging that an objective has been achieved and
rewarding those responsible. They generate enthusiasm, build confidence, and boost morale.

A celebration can be as simple as a selection of cakes during coffee break; or it might be as elaborate as a
large function to celebrate the achievement of organisational objectives or exceptional year-end results.

Although some people are internally driventhey dont need external recognition to make them feel as
though they have succeededmost people value some form of public appreciation.

Make sure that you and your team celebrate your achievements. If necessary, remind your bosses of the
value of celebrations and persuade them to participate. If the successes are relatively small, you can still
organise your own festivities.
 The prospect of a celebration can be a strong motivating factor. The thought of a bottle of champagne can
be much more of an incentive than its cash value would suggest.

The memory of a celebration will inspire confidence and enthusiasm in future projects.

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Public recognition not only validates your contribution but also increases your visibility, reinforcing
your confidence and enhancing your opportunities for promotion and advancement.

Common mistakes

You fail to delegate

Many managers feel the burden of accountability so heavily that they no longer have the confidence to
delegate. They feel that allowing their people the freedom to make decisions will result in a loss of control.
Due to this fear, they control the decision-making, and alienate their team in the process. Keeping strict
control can actually disable the team and undermine the confidence they have in their own abilities. This will
subsequently affect results and dent your own confidence.

You become dependent

If you are lucky enough to have a mentor or a supportive boss, you can become dependent on their advice.
This is particularly common after promotion. You may well have the skills to do the job, but after a while, you
can lose the confidence to make your own decisions. Perhaps your mentor has contributed to this problem by
being too protective or not giving you enough freedom. You will have to wean yourself off their expertise.
Raise this issue with them and identify areas or projects that you can begin managing without support.

You fear the worst

Rather than concentrate on what you can control, you allow your mind to entertain thoughts of disaster.
Confidence comes from doing what you do well, so focus on your core skills. Get the basics right and minor
problems will not be significant. If you have clearly defined areas of accountability, you should be able to
anticipate and overcome any worrying issues.

STEPS TO SUCCESS

Know which skills you need to do your job. If you lack some of them, ask for advice or training.

Make sure you have clearly defined targets. Set yourself personal goals if necessary.

Take control of your work. Ensure that you are not accountable for results over which you have no
authority.
 Seek out opportunities for training. Confidence comes from knowledge and skills.

Celebrate your achievements, to build confidence and raise your profile.

Useful links

Improving your confidence:

www.bbc.co.uk/relationships/improving_
your_confidence

More-SelfEsteem.com:

www.more-selfesteem.com