20 Powerful Ways to Build Self Confidence at the Workplace

Confidence comes from practice and can be learned, developed or taught.

“People will hate you, rate you, shake you and break you. How strong you stand is what makes you.”

-Anonymous; taken from confidence boosting quotes repository

Confidence is the belief in oneself, the conviction that you can meet life’s challenges and succeed, and the willingness to overcome obstacles. Confidence readies us for life’s experiences. When confident, we are more likely to seize opportunities and not back away from them. And confidence enables us to try again if things don’t work out in the first instance. It is the opposite when confidence is low.

Why Confidence is Important?

Confidence gives you the skills and coping methods to handle setbacks and failures. If you are confident, people believe in you. Confidence is attractive, brings success, helps you connect well with others, and makes you generally feel happier. High self-confidence gives you the energy and motivation to take action.

Here are eight specific reasons underlying the importance of confidence for success:

1. Confidence makes you healthier.

Confident people tend to be healthier and live longer due to the positive effects of emotions associated with confidence – happiness, optimism, and satisfaction. People who lack confidence often struggle with emotions like fear, depression, and anxiety, which are related to adverse health effects.

2. Confidence keeps you safe.

Confident people are less likely to do things they don’t want to. This can include risky, dangerous activities that others are pressuring you into. A person with low confidence is more likely to cave to peer pressure, despite knowing better.

3. Confidence facilitates quicker decision-making.

Confidence helps keep things in perspective. If you lack confidence, it’s natural to doubt yourself, try to reverse a decision or berate yourself if things don’t go according to plan. You will feel more secure in your ability to make decisions, and if the outcome isn’t exactly what you want, you’re more likely to be able to adapt.

4. Confidence helps in building resilience.

Confidence helps you put failures in perspective. When you have confidence in yourself, you know you have the skills necessary to tackle any challenges that come your way.

5. Confidence enhances your relationships.

Confident people are less dependent on others for assurance and approval. They are comfortable being themselves, which encourages more honesty in a relationship. Confident people are also more likely to maintain healthy boundaries and not cave in to those who don’t respect them.

6. Confidence earns you respect.

People respect confidence. Confident people give the impression that they know what they’re doing and are therefore more trustworthy and inspiring. Confidence doesn’t mean “arrogance.” Confident people also earn respect by listening to other perspectives, responding to criticism, and understanding their weaknesses.