Self confidence is key!

Or the key is self confidence… Self confidence or self esteem, I’m not sure if they are the same but they are definitely both key to success.

Blogging about careers and trying to share what could be considered “career advice” is something that matters to me. Not only after having listened to many friends share their experiences and go through ups and downs, but also after going through my own hard times, I feel like this is something that needs to be shared!

Work experience and careers, this is the next step for most of us once we’re out of school, yet it is often where there is the least advice available. Though there is definitely a ton of career advice out there, you don’t necessarily get that sense of community or of common hardship that you can get in school, therefore leaving you to sometimes feel quite alone.

At work, it becomes much more each man for himself, who’s king of the jungle? And before we start delving too far deep into the professional world in general, let’s take a look at self confidence.

It’s become apparent to me lately, that self-confidence or self esteem, can really help you go a long way. I’m not talking about being over confident, cocky, loud mouthed or just plain annoying to everyone around you. I’m talking about feeling confident about who you are and being comfortable with yourself.

To some people this is a given and they don’t even have to think about it. They wake up feeling great, they believe they can do it, and they rarely self doubt. But for others this can ebb, or it is a conscious effort to work on being more confident.

The importance of self confidence, or self esteem, is that it helps carry you through. For example, starting to speak up more for yourself in certain situations can stem from the realisation that you believe in yourself – your self confidence is helping you reach your goals. It’s because you believe in what you’re worth and that you value it, that you will make yourself heard. How is this helpful?

For a start, it will help you advocate for yourself. It will also help you be less afraid of speaking up or sharing your opinion. These may seem like details but when you have lost self confidence it becomes hard to ask or even think you deserve any of it.

Self-confidence can also help you stay strong in your job – for example when speaking to clients or colleagues… It can help you stay strong when presenting and project confidence. It also helps to stay confident in the face of adversity.

The truth is, too often I see people fail or waiver because they lack self confidence. They show nervousness and hesitation, look indecisive and don’t stand their ground. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, each person has their weaknesses… But I’ve seen it hinder people with potential, watch them as they don’t believe in themselves and by so doing lessen their value. This may seem dramatic, but it’s true.

So start believing in yourself and be your own champion. Go out there, chin up, and if someone tells you you’re awesome, believe it. Go on! Just a small thing like that can help add a bounce in your stride and make you more confident at work. And you would be surprised by the changes you see.

Don’t confuse this with being cocky – no one likes that, but just a bit more belief in yourself may do wonders. Give it a try, and see what happens.