50. Has your Career Confidence taken a Hit?

Sep 30, 2023

Ever had that nagging feeling in your career, like you're not quite hitting your stride?

Let's talk about a big issue that hits many of us square in the career confidence department.

When we're trying to boost our career confidence, I see many women try the following:

Skill-Building Spree: We go all-in on acquiring new skills, thinking it'll do the trick.
Seeking External Validation: Some of us look for constant validation from colleagues or bosses to reassure ourselves.
Comparison Game: And then there's the good old comparison game, where we stack our accomplishments against others.

These strategies, while helpful in some ways, often miss the mark:

The Inner Spark: True confidence starts from within, not just from racking up degrees or certificates.
Comparison Pitfall: Constantly comparing ourselves to others can lead to a nasty case of impostor syndrome.
Impostor Syndrome Lingers: Even when we achieve a lot, many of us still feel like we're faking it.

To cultivate genuine career confidence, let's switch things up with a fresh approach:

Step 1. Know yourself

Begin by getting to know your self and unique strengths, quirks and what makes you tick. True confidence starts with self awareness. Also just because someone told you something about you - it doesn't make it true. It is their opinion through their lense.

Step 2. Positive Self-Talk

Kick that inner critic to the curb and replace it with your own cheerleader. As Maya Angelou once said, "You alone are enough, You have nothing to prove to anybody."

Step 3. Celebrate Wins

No victory is too small to celebrate. Give yourself credit for every accomplishment, big or small. As Oprah Winfrey puts it, "The more you praise and celebrate your life, the more there is in life to celebrate."

Step 4. Lifelong Learning

Stay curious and never stop learning. The more you know, the more confident you'll become. Build a bridge from the skills and job that you have to the skills and job that you want. Eleanor Roosevelt reminds us, "You must do the thing you think you cannot do."

Step 5. Lean on Allies

Seek out mentors, coaches, or individuals who can be your support system. I have always cultivated relationships with women who are 10 to 15 years older than me. They have really helped guide me on my journey. As Sheryl Sandberg puts it, "The ability to learn is the most important quality a leader can have."

Step 6. Dream Big

Have a think about what is the Big Dream? What are the tiny steps to get there! Start following the breadcrumbs that the universe is giving you. What is the smallest part of the big dream that you can start to do now!

To boost your career confidence, find your courage, get to know yourself, replace negativity with positivity, celebrate every win, commit to lifelong learning, seek support from mentors, and visualize your success.

Remember, confidence begins within, and your unique journey is your greatest strength.

So, go confidently on your career path!

This Week’s Action Step

What is something that you have been holding back about in your career?

I urge you to try it this week.

Give it a go. There is certainly one thing.

That’s it for today.

See you next week. xx

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