You’re struggling to find your voice in the workplace. How can you develop assertiveness and confidence?

1 Assess your situation

Before you can change your behavior, you need to understand what is holding you back. What are the situations or people that trigger your insecurity or hesitation? What are the negative beliefs or emotions that prevent you from speaking up or standing up for yourself? How do these factors affect your performance and well-being at work? To answer these questions, you can use a self-assessment tool, such as a SWOT analysis, a journal, or a feedback survey. By identifying your strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats, you can gain more insight into your current reality and your potential for improvement.

2 Set your goals

Once you have a clear picture of your situation, you can start setting some realistic and specific goals for yourself. What do you want to achieve by being more assertive and confident at work? How will it benefit you and others? How will you measure your progress and success? For example, you may want to increase your influence, negotiate better deals, resolve conflicts, or get more recognition. Whatever your goals are, make sure they are SMART: specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound. Write them down and review them regularly to keep yourself motivated and focused.

3 Learn the skills

Being assertive and confident is not something that comes naturally to everyone. It is a skill that can be learned and practiced. There are many resources and techniques that can help you develop your voice and decision-making abilities, such as books, courses, podcasts, mentors, or coaches. Some of the skills you may want to learn include: how to use assertive language and body language, how to express your opinions and preferences clearly and respectfully, how to say no and set boundaries, how to handle criticism and feedback, how to deal with difficult people and situations, and how to cope with stress and anxiety .

4 Apply the skills

Learning the skills is only the first step. You also need to apply them in real-life scenarios and situations. This may require you to step out of your comfort zone and challenge yourself to act differently than usual. For example, you may want to volunteer for a project, ask for a raise, share your ideas in a meeting, or confront a colleague who is treating you unfairly. To make this easier, you can start with small and simple actions, and gradually increase the level of difficulty and complexity. You can also prepare yourself beforehand by rehearsing what you want to say or do, anticipating possible outcomes and responses, and having a backup plan.

5 Seek support

You don't have to do this alone. You can seek support from people who can help you along the way, such as your friends, family, colleagues, mentors, or coaches. They can provide you with encouragement, feedback, advice, or guidance, depending on your needs and goals. You can also join a network or a community of people who share similar challenges or aspirations, and learn from their experiences and insights. By seeking support, you can boost your confidence, expand your perspective, and overcome your obstacles.

6 Celebrate your achievements

Finally, don't forget to celebrate your achievements, no matter how big or small they are. Every time you make a decision, express yourself, or assert yourself, you are taking a step forward in your personal and professional growth. You are also making a positive impact on your workplace and your relationships. Therefore, you deserve to acknowledge and reward yourself for your efforts and results. You can do this by giving yourself a compliment, treating yourself to something nice, sharing your success with others, or adding it to your portfolio or resume. By celebrating your achievements, you can reinforce your self-esteem, motivation, and satisfaction.