ARTICLES

Understanding how to say no effectively is a critical career and communication skill. Use this bridging technique to help you.

A lack of confidence can be a very real barrier to career success and being fulfilled at work. It might stop you from putting yourself forward for opportunities, voicing your ideas or pulling back when faced with a new or challenging situation. It can also hinder how well you ‘sell’ yourself in interviews. For those who lack confidence and experience low self-esteem, there are things you can do to help you feel more confident. Here are the five steps I recommend.

Working isn’t just ‘doing’. Working is allowing your brain to process information and generate fresh thinking.

Taking time to time is vital to work (and live) well-being. It allows us to generate fresh ideas and use our time strategically.

Our confidence understandably grows when we perceive we have control over what is happening. Conversely, that confidence shrinks when we feel like things are happening beyond our control and, even worse, get ‘out of control’. We feel more confident when we are in control because we know what we are doing and what is expected. We know we have the knowledge/skills/resources required by the situation.

Why questions create space to explore our motivation, assumptions, reasons and purpose - and challenge accepted thinking.

There is a powerful correlation between mindfulness and building confidence, especially so in an ever-busier world where change is hitting us with terminal velocity and being heard is increasingly difficult. Slowing down and being more aware of your brain and emotions boosts your confidence.

How do you feed your concentration? We have different ways of working and there is more than one way to achieve a result. Understand how your brain works and work with, not against it.

Whilst we can be our own greatest critic, we can also be our greatest fan. Focusing on your strengths and recounting your successes boosts confidence and a stronger sense of self.

When you’re trying to be involved in everything, working excessively to try and clear that (unending) to-do list or be all things to all people, you will inevitably miss something. It can be hard to let go. But if you don't focus, you are diluting your impact, attention and energy.

Stress is a fact of life and being stressed, feeling stressed, is a choice. How we react, how we manage our mental health and how we choose our perspective are our choice - even if we feel like we have no control.

We are programmed to think the grass is greener elsewhere, but is it? The grass grows greenest where you water it, so before you look with envy at what others have, look at what is already in your grasp.

Dogs live in the moment and we can learn from them how to be present and how to enjoy simple pleasures to boost well-being and confidence.