Though both capability and competence are key ‘must’ haves when it comes to developing your career in today’s workplace the other c…… word; confidence, will be the catalyst to inspiring your team and delivering exceptional results for your organisation. It’s also key skills to accelerating your promotional path.
Working with many senior leaders across the globe a common issue they raise is the challenge of the manager that lacks confidence. It seems strange doesn’t it? Aren’t all managers meant to be brimming with confidence? Possibly, though the truth is that isn’t always the case and everyone’s individual confidence muscle needs attention if it’s to be kept in peak performance condition.
Let’s be clear on what exactly we are talking about when it comes to this often used word.
confidence
Noun
- The feeling or belief that one can have faith in or rely on someone or something.
“we had every confidence in the staff”
Synonyms: trust, belief, faith, credence, conviction
Interesting synonyms. Trust is a common phrase used in today’s work place, though belief, credence and conviction not so much.
Today’s exceptional leaders must be believable if they are to confidently inspire their teams to act and move forward.
As the well-known best-selling author Seth Godin explains in his best seller Linchpin, people want to be led by inspiring leaders; developing confidence is one of the ways to make this happen.
What makes our confidence ebb and flow?
In a work context our confidence level either decreases over time as we make mistakes that then starts our negative self-talk, or it improves as we consistently accomplish tasks, dare I say it, under the constant encouragement of our own confident manager.
What exactly then is the formula for increasing your confidence levels?
Here are 6 steps proven to turn up your confidence dial.
1. Keep your word
Who hasn’t felt that buzz when you get up in the morning and go to the gym; because you’ve said you would. Or when you say no to that glass of wine because you have made a commitment to say no to alcohol Monday to Friday.
What happens here is you state your intention and then you stick to it. People then experience that you are a woman or man of your word.
Confidence starts to build when you state your intentions. Let people know you will finish an assigned task at work–and then go ahead and finish the task #ontime. By voicing your goals to everyone, you gain confidence because you are holding yourself accountable.
2. Learn, learn, study and learn more….
There is a well-used saying that “knowledge is power”. Knowledge is also a sure fire way to build confidence. There is nothing worse for an employee than asking their manager a question in their manager’s skill area, who then can’t answer it.
Become the expert in the areas expected of you, answer questions and make suggestions. You will be amazed how your confidence soars.
3. Beat your drum
The current business world we all live in is a noisy place. Unfortunately unless you speak up about what you are doing, you won’t get heard. You may be delivering great work with your global team, however that can still, surprisingly go unnoticed or recognised.
The fact is confident people communicate in a factual way. Building their profile and confidence; take action and then email me with the results. It will be positive.
4. Check your body language
Confidence is communicated in multiple ways, never more so than through your body language.
Professor Albert Mehrabian’s communication model research confirms that:
- 7% of message pertaining to feelings and attitudes is in the words that are spoken.
- 38% of message pertaining to feelings and attitudes is paralinguistic (the way that the words are said).
- 55% of message pertaining to feelings and attitudes is in facial expression.
For those of you with a calculator at hand it won’t take you long to appreciate that 93% of the impact we make is not about the words we are saying.
Stand upright and tall and your impression and impact accelerates. Practise changing your posture and tonality; the results will prove how effective this is.
5. Ignore the naysayers
Unfortunately some individuals in a working environment like to moan, groan and criticise. It’s common because it is an easy path to take, that avoids any unnecessary attention on them. Avoid listening to the negative chatter that will happen as you become the new confident you.
A great tip I was given by my very first manager was to practise discernment.
In other words; is this true? How do they know, what data are they basing their comments on?
Use your knowledge skills, judgement and perceptions, then you alone make the decision.
Keep away from the naysayers and focus instead on number 6.
6. Hang around positive confident people
Sounds cheesy I know and it works. The parents reading this article, like me, I am sure will all have uttered similar words to this; “why don’t you invite Sarah round she is such a lovely Girl.”
It’s a fact that hanging around ‘positive’ and supportive people will boost your confidence. Jim Rohn the well-known motivational speaker and expert is known for the following quotation.
“You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with.”
It is a universal truth that we can all occasionally forget. Seek out people like this and spend time with them, ask their advice, model their behavior and look out for the results.
Until next time,
Julia
P.S. Would you like to improve the confidence of your managers? Our Impactful Influencing programme can help. Want to know more? Call us now on 0845 548 0833.
