I often refer to career confidence as a superpower. Why? Because I have witnessed many times through coaching, this superpower in action. What will never cease to amaze me, is how confidence is often the key differentiating factor in someone being where they wish to be in their career, and someone who is not…yet.

Whist research has shown genetics to impact confidence by a staggering 25% - 50%, this still leaves at least 50% opportunity for experiences and environment to impact your confidence.

So, how can you utilise your environment and experiences to increase your confidence?

1. Fight Fear with Courage. In the wise words of Brene Brown, courage is not the absence of fear; Courage is Fear Walking. Experts agree that confidence can be improved with practice. Confidence is something you can develop and grow through life’s experiences and challenges. I am privileged to have witnessed this as a coach on many occasions. If you can act despite the fear you feel, the results are just on the other side of this discomfort.

2. Know Who You Are. Once you understand your unique personal values, ‘quirks’, likes and dislikes, you are in a much stronger position to start to honour these and align your career and life to what feels congruent, rather than living incongruently. When you start to align your career to what you value, your confidence grows in standing up for what you want and what you believe in. You gain the confidence to say yes more frequently to what feels aligned, and no to what feels misaligned. You stop hiding who you are and instead start to embrace and honour your ‘uniqueness’ with confidence and conviction.

3. Choose Your Company Wisely. Your environment and those you surround yourself with, impacts your confidence. Pause for a moment and think about a team and/or leader where you felt your confidence adversely affected. Now compare this to a team and/or leader where you felt your confidence bolstered. Find your cheerleaders whether it be a team, leader, or mentor. When you work alongside people who believe in you, this belief positively impacts your confidence. The opposite is also true, therefore choose wisely.

4. Don’t Wait. Waiting and hoping things will get better in your career is the quickest way to deplete your confidence. If you wait, you deny that you’re in the driving seat and have the ability to influence and change your career. When you wait, you risk becoming stuck in a rut. This is dangerous territory as inertia breeds insecurity - when you start to become unfamiliar with change this creates more fear around career change. Instead, listen to the subtle nudges and make incremental changes that reflect strong self-worth. The more you practice using your courage and confidence muscle, the stronger it will grow.

5. Good is Good Enough. Confidence doesn’t wait for perfection before trying something different or new. Confidence has a willingness to learn, grow, and laugh at itself. In moments of self-doubt repeat to yourself ‘good is good enough’. Anyone you meet that has an enviable career, has at some point, walked with fear at their side and experienced self-doubt. There is an excellent book called ‘Winging It’ by Emma Isaacs. Although personally I believe, ‘winging it’ is simply having the courage to back yourself without waiting for perfection.