6 Steps to Build Self-Confidence for Career Success
Individuals navigating along their career path build on feelings of self-confidence, self-worth, and inner strength to transform the journey into career success. The workplace is rapidly changing and settling with one organization for the entirety of a career is now outside the norm. People change jobs approximately eight times during the lifespan of their career. Being able to work productively in various organizational cultures, thrive in different organizational hierarchies, and transfer skills across different industries is an important part of building a career ladder.
After years of consulting with business professionals as a leadership mentor, business learning specialist, and life coach, I can offer the following advice. Building a successful business career takes concerted effort, self-confidence, and well-planned strategies. Here are six tips for creating career success where you can enjoy the journey:
1. Take an Inventory
As you have lived through life’s ups and downs, charted a career, and managed relationships, you have developed a skill set. Each time you make a career change, consider which skills will be most useful to emphasize in the next move. If you are not sure what talents you own, ask co-workers. When you are added to a project team, think about what skill sets they want you to bring to the table. Through experience, you are building wisdom that can be applied in different situations and across different industries. Keeping track of the skills, knowledge, and abilities you possess builds your self-confidence and helps create a feeling of self-worth.
2. Build a Network
Reach out and ask for help when you need it. Accept it when offered and be ready to offer help to others when their need arises. As the saying goes, don’t burn any bridges, because you never know when a former co-worker or boss can provide much needed leverage in snagging your next career ladder rung. Identify what individuals can be useful resources and stay in touch with them, at least occasionally.
3. Develop Flexibility
Even the best made plans can take an unexpected turn. Be adaptable and resilient. We learn the most from our mistakes and we can become more adept at handling life’s challenges and opportunities when we have the self-awareness of our skill set.
4. Chart Your Future Trajectory
You are the author of your own life. It’s your book that you are writing, so determine what chapter you are living now and how you want the plot to develop, which characters matter, and what the theme should be. Remember that your career is only one portion of this life chapter, so keep things in perspective.
5. Advocate for Yourself as You Would Advocate for Others
Often, we are great advocates for others but not for ourselves. Negotiate not for what you need but for what you deserve. Think of yourself in the third person when you are considering your persuasive argument.
6. Be Thankful
Showing gratitude helps keep your attitude positive. People like working with positive people. Even in the darkest of days, look for the cloud with the silver lining and be thankful for all the blessing that have been bestowed.
