How to Gain Self Confidence at Work

Success and job satisfaction are often linked to high self-confidence. If you have a good dose of self-confidence, you can positively influence your own career in many ways. The prerequisite for this, however, is that the self-confident appearance does not lead to overconfidence. We'll give you some tips on how to get a healthy dose of self-confidence at work or for your next job interview.

Self-confidence begins in the mind. Anyone who thinks positively about themselves, is aware of their abilities and considers them valuable has self-confidence. Having trust in yourself and your qualities is therefore the most important basic prerequisite. Only those who have mental strength based on self-confidence can appear and be perceived as self-confident, while people who think they are not good enough or too insecure will also behave insecurely. As a kind of self-fulfilling prophecy, self-confidence begins in the mind and is reflected in behavior. The first step to more self-confidence, then, is to develop positive thoughts and believe in yourself. Try some positive self-affirmations each morning to help get you started. 

Especially when you are still new on the job or just starting your career, it can be difficult to appear self-confident to colleagues, customers or your superior. After all, you can't yet know that you are up to the demands of the job.

To help you learn this quickly and avoid too many hindering thoughts, small exercises are helpful. Actively seek out challenges that force you out of your comfort zone. This can be a presentation in a larger meeting, a difficult conversation with your boss or, for example, proactively taking on challenging projects. The more often you master uncomfortable or difficult situations, the more confident you will become. Over time, you will become less and less nervous and will be able to exhibit more self-assurance in dealings with HR managers, superiors and colleagues. The more regularly you practice something, the stronger you become. 

Self-esteem doesn't mean that you have to pretend to be flawless. Rather, it's about knowing both your positive and negative traits and using them skillfully.

Our tip: focus on expressing your strengths in order to appear confident, but also be aware of your weaknesses. You can use and develop your talents and abilities in your job or interview. You should know your weak points, accept them and improve upon them if necessary. In the end, this not only results in a healthy self-confidence, but also a better ability to both give and receive constructive criticism. So don't be afraid to be yourself!