Whether it's calling important clients, dealing with customer care issues, asking for a pay rise or having to give a presentation at some stage in our careers we might hit something that doesn't feel totally comfortable for us to do. Following are some suggestions of ways to increase your confidence in the workplace:

What are your beliefs?

What do you believes about yourself in relation to your capability to do your job? Is there something you believe that is holding you back from feeling fully confident at work? Perhaps it could be something like I don't have enough experience, I don't sound professional when speaking in public, I am not qualified enough. Then ask yourself why this is rubbish?? Turn it around and ask why you are great at doing your job?

In a coaching session we would really look into this and work through eliminating any behaviour patterns or ways of thinking that have been holding you back. For a free initial coaching session please use the contact details at the end of this article.


Make a list of everything you have to offer your clients and employees, what are your skills and why should they be over the moon to have you working for them?

Affirmations

Create a positive statement you can say to yourself before you make that difficult call, attend that meeting you have been trying to get out of or give that speech you have been dreading. Something that will make you feel strong and powerful like; I am capable of handling any situation that arises or I am in control and confident or I have all the knowledge and experience I need to do this.

Your State

Your physical state has a huge impact on the way you feel and your actions. Anthony Robbins use a great example of skipping, when you skip you can't help but smile, if you are skipping and people see you they are likely to smile back at you causing a ripple effect. I have tested this out round the park one day (yes I am slightly mad) and it really is the funniest thing to do, you cannot stay in a bad mood when you skip!

So when you have a difficult call to make go for a walk around the office first to get your energy levels up and then try standing up whilst making the call. Standing up will make you feel more powerful than sitting hunched up all nervous over the phone. The client can't see you but I bet it will make you feel stronger knowing you are standing up to them.

Plan the call/ meeting

Put yourself in the clients/bosses shoes before you speak to them, what would they want to hear, what would they expect from hear, what solution would they want, how can you help them etc? The idea being if you get used to behaving generously you may find people can't help but to help you in return.

Decide on your objective before the call or meeting, what do you want to get out of the conversation? Write it down. This will help you to keep a clear mind whilst speaking to your client/boss.

Learn from others

Pick colleagues you look up to, that are great at giving presentations, really holding their own in meetings and that handle difficult situations well. What can you learn from them, what can you use and copy? Also observe people who are not so great, (obviously subtly!) what mistakes are they making, where they go wrong so you know not what to do too!

Review

Each time you do something you were nervous about review it, ask yourself:

1) What should I start doing the next time that I didn't do this time?
2) What should I stop doing that didn't work so well this time?
3) What worked well that I want to continue doing?

Learn what you can then try again - action is better than over analysing it too much.

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