– Advertisement –
Confidence is an often misunderstood trait. Loud, showy, and extroverted behavior may seem like self-assurance, but this is not always the reality. Sometimes there can be quiet confidence, as can humility and simplicity, or the possession of basic possessions. Without those widely accepted indicators of confidence, you might not even realize you have any. But self-confidence is essential to get where you want to be. It’s essential for empowering a team, staying motivated to work, and meeting those audacious requests.
Master the art of showing confidence at work
– Advertisement –
yota trom
Yota Trom is a coach on a mission to help leaders in technology connect with their inner confidence. As a coach and founder of the London tech meetup Together in Tech, which has grown into a global network of 6,000 people supporting each other to build their businesses, Tromm has learned firsthand about self-doubt and impostor syndrome Have seen the pattern of what many leaders experience. Trom began his career as a software engineer, holding senior roles at Amazon and Yahoo before earning a Masters in Positive Psychology and Coaching Psychology. He is also a visiting lecturer at University College London (UCL) on Humanitarian Leadership and Management.
– Advertisement –
By helping her clients realize their potential and understand their self-imposed limits, Trom has seen them become more confident in their abilities and better able to build on their strengths, leading to greater success in their chosen fields. Got it. This success has come in the form of massive pay raises, game-changing promotions, and entire career pivots. Here’s how to do it for yourself.
1. Understand what confidence is
– Advertisement –
Trom believes that confidence is a skill that can be developed. She suggests that people first identify areas where they already feel strong and confident, of which, “everyone has at least one area.” Once recognized, they can identify patterns and increase their confidence in other areas.
To do this, think of three areas of your life that you feel good about and know that you are doing well. Trom said, “Confidence is the feeling of recognizing that you are good at something.” So dig into the reasons you feel that way about those things. Perhaps you’ve developed skills, you’ve been doing them for a long time, or you feel you have a natural talent. However small, tap into your existing confidence in those specific areas.
Then “think of three things you are less good at that you think could need improvement,” and apply that same lens. Why do you feel unbelieving about these things? Knowing that you have a track record because you’ve successfully accomplished those things on the first list, “take that confidence to the second list, and think about them in the same way.” Feelings of confidence in one area can be translated into another, once you know how they came to be. Now that the gap between where you are and where you need to be is clear, you can work to fill it.
2. Find Your Inner Peace
“Identifying your strengths and maximizing them comes more naturally than others,” Trom said, “but the people with the most confidence are also the most authentic.” They know who they are and they know how they appear, and it’s consistent throughout their week.
Cultivating this continuity and connectedness begins with self-awareness and leads to creating a plan of action. For the awareness step, Trom recommends that you, “close your eyes and try to connect with your center.” Find a sense of calm within your physical body, perhaps holding onto your breath. See if you can describe how you feel when you do this, perhaps, “aware, open, peaceful, calm, receptive, clear.” Labeling how you feel when you are fully in the present moment means you can return to the moment when you are in a challenging situation.
“Your center is where your confidence resides,” Trom said. Being able to revisit this place will help you find a sense of inner confidence that can ward off stress. Think of the words you came up with and recite them as mantras. Use the words to reconnect with your inner stillness and peace.
Master the art of appearing confident at work: 5 actionable tips
Getty 3. Upgrade Your Self-Talk
Build and demonstrate inner confidence by being mindful of the words you use to describe yourself. Trom encourages her clients to “use empowering words and tell themselves kind and loving stories” instead of focusing on their weaknesses.
Think about a recent setback or rejection you’ve faced. Notice how you talk to yourself when you feel like you haven’t done your best or missed your mark. “How were you thinking about yourself and your role in what was going on as you were processing the information?” asked Trom. Do you curse and put yourself down? Many of us do.
Now, “imagine someone you care deeply about how they felt after hearing an unfavorable response to their work or request.” Imagine explaining to them how rubbish they felt and how they wish they had done something differently, while blaming themselves for not doing enough. “What would you think of them and what would you say to them? Compare the difference in the way you behave and reassure them with how you talk to yourself. Trom knows that you are probably more kind and generous to them. Next time apply that same compassion to your situation.
4. Work on your assertiveness
The next step to projecting confidence at work is practicing assertiveness so that you can talk about your values and needs. This means knowing what you want and communicating clearly to others “in an assertive but compassionate manner, without being confrontational.”
To get good at it, revisit your center. Next time you notice someone’s defensiveness in response to your request, or feel uncomfortable asking for what you want, ask yourself that question. “What’s really bothering me? What do I need? What will I enjoy here?” He said. Ask, “How can I frame this in a way that makes it clear that it is not coming from anger? How can I communicate more respectfully?”
Trom’s advice is to apply empathy to the other person. One of Trome’s clients was recently frustrated that taking notes in meetings didn’t always work for her. Rather than simply venting his frustrations, assuming ill-will or building up resentment, Trom advised his client to “suggest that the task was intentionally rotated around the participants and process for future meetings.” Prepare so that everyone has a chance to take notes. Instead of focusing on the problem and frustration in the role of victim, channel energy into solutions and communicate assertively.
5. Reward Yourself
Finally, look back and reward yourself for your achievements till date. It’s all too easy to make incremental progress through our work without pausing to reflect on how far we’ve come. Celebrations don’t have to be grand, even a congratulatory journal entry or pre-dinner acknowledgment of victory can suffice.
“We focus on what’s coming next: the next goal, the next achievement, and rarely take the time to look back at what we’ve accomplished.” But doing so can instill confidence. Trom suggests writing a diary acknowledging successes, for example at the end of a tough training period or work sprint. That way, as you persevere, you know a period of reflection will be coming. It doesn’t seem like you’ll be laboring away forever. Use the reflection period to focus on the strengths that brought you forward.
“The most powerful emotion we can harness is love, and loving yourself instills the confidence to be who you are and motivates you to keep striving for success.” It starts with acknowledging and celebrating your victories, no matter how small, and rewarding yourself accordingly.
Master the art of showing confidence at work
Master the art of projecting confidence at work by understanding confidence and what it looks like when it is present, then connecting with your inner sense of calm to find this feeling more often. Upgrade how you talk to yourself when things don’t go according to plan, practice assertively delivering your words, and reward yourself for victories. The confidence you want lies within you, now is the time to bring it out.
Source link
– Advertisement –
