Here are 11 tips to help you boost your confidence and self-esteem at work. 

1. Dress for the Job You Want, Not the Job You Have

A study found that students randomly assigned to wear a lab coat performed better on cognitive tests than students wearing their usual clothes. This increased the confidence level in those who believed they were wearing a doctor’s coat. 

In addition, a study published in the Journal of Experimental Social Psychology suggests that appearing physically strong can also give you a confidence boost and better your performance.

So next time you head to work, don’t automatically reach for your old suit! Take time to select something new and bolder than what you would normally wear.

Remember that confident people wear what elevates them as a person.  

It could be as simple as a new tie or top to make a real difference to your level of confidence.

2. Develop a Good Network of Contacts

A big part of building confidence is maintaining a good network. It’s important to get to know your coworkers and develop trust with them. 

When you work on a project, don’t just go with the first solution that comes to mind. Instead, think over the different options and consider ways to improve them before deciding which one to go with. 

In this way, you’ll look like more of a team player and will show that you care about the quality of your work.

This is a common practice between successful people —- they have a growth mindset where they try to work with different people and build a healthy relationship.  

3. Think Positively About Yourself and Your Abilities

If you want to become more confident — develop a positive mindset.  You need to start your day by having positive affirmations about yourself. Instead of focusing on your weaknesses, concentrate on things you do well and the valuable contributions you make to your organization. 

Take time each day to write down three positive things that happened that day or that you did well at work (like helping someone out). 

Over time, develop the habit of noticing the good things you do each day and give yourself credit for them. Remember that confident people are conscious about their personal life — having assertive communication with yourself is part of that.  

When you start recognizing the good things you’re doing, it will be easier to notice the areas where you could do better. You’ll also become more confident in your ability to handle challenges as they arise. 

4. Work on Your Communication Skills and Learn How to Talk to People Effectively

There are two parts to communicating, verbal and nonverbal. Verbal communication is the words you speak and the tone you use. Nonverbal communication is your body language and facial expressions. 

When you communicate with someone, you may be saying one thing, but your body language or facial expression may be saying something entirely different. This is a sign of a lack of confidence. 

Therefore, to build confidence, work on your verbal and nonverbal communication skills. Look people in the eye when you talk to them, using eye contact. Also, focus on the tone of voice you’re using. 

Stand up straight; don’t slouch or cross your arms across your chest. Keep your arms uncrossed or put them in a position that shows they are open to others, such as on the desk or at the side of the chair. 

Speak clearly and loudly enough so that people can hear you without having to strain.

5. Show Leadership Potential by Volunteering for Projects or Getting Involved in Committees

If you’re feeling nervous about how you stack up to your coworkers and want to show them that you can do the job, consider volunteering for a project. 

It shows that you are genuinely interested in the company’s success and willing to go above and beyond to get the job done well.

It also gives you valuable experience that might look good on your resume down the road when it’s time to find a new job.

If there are some time-sensitive projects or training opportunities available, volunteer for an hour here and there after hours or on weekends. That shows that you’re invested in the company’s success and willing to go further than others to get the job done well. 

Sometimes when people feel like they don’t have a lot of experience or great ideas, they don’t want to “rock the boat.” But it’s better to let your manager know that you’re willing to help out on committees. 

And make suggestions for improvement at work than just sitting back and hoping someone notices how good of a worker you are.

No doubt, this is one of the surest ways to build confidence and self-esteem at work

6. Think Before You Act – Don’t Rush Into Things Without Thinking First

It’s easy to rush into a situation without thinking it through first and regretting it later. Rushing will make you look foolish and unconfident. 

Think about the situation, what the consequences would be if you took the action, what the consequences would be if you didn’t take the action, and whether there’s a better alternative.

Taking time to think before you act allows you to see the problem from all angles, and it helps you to make a better decision.

Evaluate your options based on facts (not assumptions) and weigh the pros and cons of each option. 

Don’t let other people’s opinions cloud your judgment; make a decision that will be best for you. 

It’s not just about slowing down either; it’s also about planning ahead. If you know you have an important presentation coming up, spend some time beforehand practicing your delivery and thinking of ways to improve it. It will pay off when you’re in front of the crowd.

7. Don’t Be Afraid to Make Mistakes 

There is no better way to build confidence than to take action. If you’re afraid of making mistakes, then your chances of success are going to be pretty limited. 

The first step in building self-esteem and confidence is to trust yourself and your ability to perform.

Accept that everyone makes mistakes, it’s normal and it’s part of the process. People who make the most mistakes often go on to achieve the most success.  

Mistakes are opportunities for learning, so don’t punish yourself for them; instead, use them as a foundation for even greater success and growth.

So what if you do make a mistake? So what if you mess up? You can recover from it. Learn from it and move on with more experience under your belt. And an even higher level of understanding about whatever it was that you didn’t do right last time around.

So don’t take yourself too seriously all the time. And fail quickly to learn quickly so that you keep on learning new lessons. This is what every successful person recommends as — ways to build confidence and self-esteem at work

8. Build Up Your Self-confidence by Giving Yourself Credit for All the Positive Things You Do 

There are many ways to build confidence and self-esteem at work. One of the easiest is by giving yourself credit for all the positive things you do. 

Try it out this week and see if it has an impact on your self-esteem.

This might sound silly, but give yourself credit for doing your job well. When you complete a task, pat yourself on the back and say something like, “I did a good job on that project.” 

You will feel more confident about yourself and be motivated to push harder because people will notice your efforts. 

Write down three things you accomplished this week and give yourself credit every time you accomplish something at work.

9. Set Goals for Yourself 

It’s important to set goals at work. These help you stay on track and ensure that you’re using your time effectively. 

They also make you feel good about yourself because you are accomplishing something each day.

The first step in setting good goals is to define what success means to you. For example, if your boss wants you to finish a major project in two months. And your goal is to have it completed in one month, that makes a difference because it’s faster than what your boss wanted.

Make sure the goals reflect your own opinion of what constitutes success. If you don’t feel like you’re accomplishing something by the end of each day, then set interim goals for each day or week that will help you achieve the larger goal. 

This helps keep perspective and also gives you an opportunity to pat yourself on the back when things go well — which can boost your confidence.

10. Keep Learning

Learning new things is one of the best ways to enjoy life, regardless of what we’re doing. The same rule applies when it comes to working. 

There are always new things to be learned, which means there’s always room for improvement. Learning new skills will not only enhance proficiency at your job but will also boost confidence.

Educational workshops are offered all the time by companies looking for top talent. Take advantage of this opportunity. 

Watch what other people do successfully, and copy how they do it. Attend seminars designed to help you hone your skills and become a better worker. 

Pick useful skills such as time management, customer service, and productivity, or learn something new that will help specifically with your job.  Continuous learning is one of the assured ways to build confidence and self-esteem at work

11. Remember to Have fun 

Many of us are guilty of taking work too seriously and forgetting to have fun while doing it. But, if you want to build self-esteem and confidence at work, you need to learn how to have fun. 

We’re not talking about goofing off all day or ignoring your responsibilities, but if having fun makes you feel good about yourself, why not do it?

Because there’s nothing worse for your self-esteem than taking yourself too seriously. Of course, you want to do a good job, but you can also have fun while you’re doing it. 

Learn to laugh at your setbacks and mistakes, and take criticism with good humor – you’ll be amazed how being more light-hearted boosts your confidence and helps you improve yourself.

Be more light-hearted with your coworkers. If you’re always so serious and focused on the job at hand that you never seem to let loose with them, they’ll assume you don’t really like them – which probably isn’t true. 

Be more open and friendly, even if it takes an effort at first. Soon enough, your workmates will be laughing with you instead of at you. This is an excellent way to boost your self-esteem and confidence at work. 

Wrapping Up 

Having confidence and self-esteem is a key to self-development for entrepreneurs. And these were some of the best ways to become your dream ‘you’!

But remember that confidence isn’t something you build in a day or even a week. It may take some time to find your feet and really feel confident at work. 

Be patient with yourself, but also push for more opportunities for growth.  

And before you know it, you’ll have mastered the art of confidence and will be able to explore your potential more deeply.