What are some effective strategies to build confidence in your professional abilities?

Confidence doesn't come naturally to everyone. It's something that has to be built up over time. Stop criticizing yourself. Try approving of yourself for a change and see what happens. Remember the inner critic's job is to protect you from making mistakes. To get what you want in life, you must believe in it. My greatest growth and achievement has come from getting out of my comfort zone and trying something new, whether it's in my personal or professional life. As a society we tend to focus on what we don't do well and spend time beating ourselves up or trying to overcome the deficiency.

Step 1: Keep Learning and Acquiring New Skills Every experience, every encounter is an opportunity to learn. Whether it's formal education, hands-on experience, or insights from others, a continuous hunger for learning lays the foundation for success. Step 2: Keep practicing those skills No matter how much you've learned, it's the regular application and honing of skills that engrain them in your repertoire. Without practice, the most profound knowledge tends to slip away. Step 3: Reflect and Monitor for Progress Regular self-reflection allows you to evaluate your strengths and weaknesses, understand what works and what doesn't, and adapt accordingly. Monitoring is like having a compass that guides you towards continuous improvement.

I would focus on capability building – developing skills and expertise that are relevant and current that employers can draw upon. This is so critical in today’s fast-changing business and work environment, given the speed of change and its impact so serious that it may make us irrelevant. With the constant upgrade of capabilities as a goal, we can stay ahead of the pack and be at our best. When we contribute positively, we will see our confidence improve and our performance as a result.

Identifying your strengths while at the same time really connecting it to what the world needs can add an extra dimension to confidence. "I have something to contribute" can reframe hesitance to stand behind your strengths.

Here are some key strategies to consider: >Consistent Communication: Regularly update your network on achievements and projects. >Skill Showcasing: Highlight your expertise through engaging content and case studies. >Endorsements: Encourage colleagues to endorse your skills.

Despite knowing the importance and making the effort to set goals, the challenge is in the execution. We must step back to WHY these goals matter to us. We need to go through the understanding of our inertia and the inability to see it to fruition. The WHY can be as simple as I need the money. I need to survive. It is mandatory as it is required in my job. From the many exercises done, I realise I need to set my perspective right; I do it because I LOVE Myself. When I do it for myself – the stakes go up. It makes me care for what is important and gives me the courage to dare act. It will give me the confidence to drive bold change that will impact my future. Setting SMART goals will get me there. It will seamlessly fall into place.

Learning a new skill makes one adaptable that allows one to navigate challenges with a ‘can do’ mindset. My love for learning contributes to my transformative mindset where I don’t fear trying out new approaches to improve. My passion for learning has enriched me with many opportunities for growth in my profession. Learning also has given me the ability to be resilient when faced with challenges. It’s never too late to learn a new skill.

Building confidence in your career is all about a simple yet crucial move: celebrate your wins, no matter how small. As someone who's been around the career coaching block, I can't stress enough the power of giving props for your hard work and acknowledging words of praise from others. So, do you do that? Keep a list! Keep multiple lists, if necessary. One strategy that I suggest to my clients is to keep a “brag folder.” A brag folder is an email folder that you keep where you put any accolades, rewards, kind words, etc from coworkers. Not only will these emails help boost your confidence but they will be incredibly helpful when it comes time to complete your self-evaluations.

One of the most important things I ask my clients to do is find a mentor, a person who has walked the path you want to (or has achieved similar goals, organization level, impact). The right mentor can provide immense insight, guidance, and wisdom along the journey, particularly at choice points during one’s career. The guidance is most often career-related, but can also be across the various areas of life. Find a mentor who has similar values, which is foundational to a successful and rewarding experience for both parties. Look inside your organization, but also outside to professional associations and through networking. Mentors differ from coaches, and both are helpful in developing confidence.

We all have a gap between what we want and what we have between the life we lead and the life we dream out. I suggest that folks spend time on themselves, even a half hour a week and examine themselves. We gain authentic confidence when we are closing our gaps in well everything right? Imagine the confidence that comes from knowing who you are, what you want and knowing what to avoid?