Successful people tend to have at least one thing in common. Confidence.

And confidence is more important than we might think, especially in the workplace!

Being confident can be more important for getting the job done than competence. Research shows that people prefer confidence to actual expertise. Decision-makers often put more stock in confidence than competence when they’re making picks for a promotion or completing a performance review.

The reality is that the business world is very competitive and without a healthy dose of confidence, it’s impossible for one to thrive. The business world requires a certain amount of self-promotion and self-initiative, which are impossible without confidence. In the business world we can’t count on our work to speak for itself. In short, we have to get ourselves noticed.

In fact, studies have shown that you’re actually better off being moderately overconfident, and that overconfidence is performance-enhancing andincreases productivity.

Throughout my HR career I’ve had the opportunity to speak with so many professionals across a variety of industries. One thing that I’ve learned from my years of working closely with people is that confidence is one of the most important assets in your career — and developing confidence in the workplace is not easy. After all, your product is you as a whole person, not merely a professional.

What I’ve come to realize is that you can actually cultivate confidence.

Sometimes the people you work with will say things that make you feel more confident, but there are times when you can build that confidence all by yourself. Even if you don’t have a ton of experience, you have value —you just need to uncover it.

Whether a bad day’s got you down, you don’t love speaking up, or you’re constantly playing the comparison game, chances are good that you could use an added dose of confidence at work.

Where do people find this magical elixir that lets people crush it, and lets others know they’re crushing it? Sadly, there’s no magic involved in building confidence at work. But here’s the good news:

there are plenty of strategies you can employ to boost your confidence at work.

This purpose of this post is to provide you with actionable tips about using your voice, words, body language, and appearance in ways that reflect confidence. You’ll also learn the importance of having a strong work ethic and using honesty and tact with others.

Finally, paying attention and identifying what you believe about yourself, and designing who you want to be, complete the picture of how you can successfully display your confidence and crush it in the workplace.

Let’s go…

Your Voice, Speech, And Words Matter

Everything about how you communicate with others illustrates who you are and your feelings about them and even yourself. When it comes to your work arena, your voice, speech, and words demonstrate how well you get along with others. Learn to take advantage of these aspects to showcase your level of confidence.

Keep these points in mind when communicating at the office:

Use your voice to show self-assurance.

Having a pleasant tone of voice, even in stressful situations, shows that you can stay calm. A friendly tone will make you appear much more approachable to others, which is an important element of confidence.

 

Voice volume is also important.

Although it’s helpful to speak at a level that others can hear, projecting too loudly is rarely the best plan at work. Actually, it can be wise to lower your voice when saying something important, as it tends to obtain and hold others’ attention. You’ll notice others leaning in toward you when you drop your voice volume.

 

Your speech, especially word choice, has an impact.

Confident people choose words that indicate they have at least a basic understanding of grammar and know the best way to get their ideas across.

 

Speak in concise, complete sentences.

Although you may be thinking, “Of course, I talk in whole sentences,” you may be surprised when you really listen to bits of your own conversation. Focus on expressing a complete, yet concise, idea to co-workers when providing your ideas or instructions.

 

Avoid using slang or “colorful” language.

Although you may be tempted to occasionally use slang or curse words when frustrated, you’ll come across as if you’re in relaxed control if you keep your responses at work at a more tactful, dignified level. Decide to be straightforward without using unsavory language.

 

If you find yourself feeling frustrated or angry, take heed.

Stay in touch with your feelings, especially at the office or when interacting with co-workers. Avoid allowing negative feelings to overflow onto others at work.

The safest way to express such feelings is to say something like, “I find myself feeling frustrated about this project. I need some time to get my thoughts together about this and then I’ll get back to you. Is this afternoon okay for you?”

Showing you can handle your feelings in appropriate ways indicates confidence.

 

Thinking before speaking is always your best option.

You’ll find that your ability to access relevant thoughts and suggestions increases vastly when you give yourself some time to thoroughly consider the options involved in a work project or situation.

Your communication skills can help you rise above any type of challenging event at the office. How you speak to others also demonstrates that you believe in yourself and know how to best deal with stressful situations and your co-workers.