Unit 3.
2
Believing in Yourself: Confidence
The way we feel about ourselves affects how we approach the world. We can be our biggest supporters, while also being our
biggest critics. But believing in ourselves will help us to succeed. Confidence is the belief that you can achieve what you set out
to do.
Why is being confident important in a work setting?
Making Mistakes: Making mistakes is inevitable for everyone at some point. However, it is the way we deal with mistakes that
is important. People who lack confidence tend to focus more on their mistake and sometimes struggle to move on, meaning
they get stuck and are less likely to take risks or try again. People with confidence can accept that they made a mistake and,
rather than focusing on the mistake, see it as an opportunity to learn and grow. People with confidence can pick themselves up
after mistakes and try again, even though they might risk making another mistake.
How Others See You: If you’re confident in your own abilities, others will also be confident in you. Others are more likely to
trust you to get work done without feeling they need to manage you. Others will give you more responsibility if projects if they
see that you believe in yourself.
Reaching Your Goals: How can you reach your goals if you don't believe that you can? When you reach your goals, you should
not be surprised that you did - instead you should recognise that your capabilities helped you to achieve what you set out to.
Believing in yourself helps you focus better and get more done. When you believe in yourself, you realise how capable you are.
Reaching your goals does not just happen by chance – you make it happen!
How can you develop confidence in yourself?
Stop Comparing: It is very easy to look at other people and compare yourself to them. You might think they are better than
you. However, it is important to remember that when you see someone else doing well, it does not mean that you aren’t doing
well. People don’t tend to let others see them struggling - you never really know what people are facing. Someone may seem
like they are doing really well at work, but they may actually feel anxious or may be finding things difficult. Our perceptions of
other people are often untrue. It’s better to focus on yourself and on the things that are going well for you. Also, remember
that there is always room for yourself and others to do well. You can celebrate others, while still being confident in your own
abilities.
Surround Yourself with Positivity: It’s important to surround yourself with as much positivity as you can – this can help to build
confidence. If you spend too much time with people who constantly put you down or criticise you, your confidence is likely to
suffer. Instead, try to be with people who encourage and support you. When you build a positive group of people around you,
you are likely to start feeling positive about yourself.
Recognise What You Achieve: You should always acknowledge and celebrate your achievements – no matter how small. When
you start celebrating your achievements, you will become less self-critical and your confidence will increase.
Focus on Your Strengths: If you are experiencing a lack of self-confidence, it’s easy to focus on your weaknesses. However, a
great way to increase your confidence is by focussing on your strengths. Think about what you are good at. Focus on these skills
and think about how you can use them to your advantage. By doing this, you will start building a positive self-image.
One of the biggest differences between successful people and unsuccessful people is their belief that they can achieve their
goals. People lacking in self-belief are far less likely to thrive, both personally and professionally. This is why it is so important to
work on your self-confidence.
Also remember that it’s good to avoid being over-confident – people who are over-confident can come across as arrogant.
www.getfieldready.com
