How can you develop the confidence to take on new challenges?
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Taking on new challenges can be daunting, especially if you are not sure about your abilities or the outcome. However, facing new situations and learning new skills can also be rewarding, both personally and professionally. In this article, we will explore some strategies to help you develop the confidence to take on new challenges and grow your career.
One way to boost your confidence is to recognize and leverage your existing strengths. Think about what you are good at, what you enjoy doing, and what you have achieved in the past. You can also ask for feedback from others, such as your colleagues, managers, mentors, or friends. By focusing on your strengths, you can appreciate your value and potential, and use them as a foundation to build on.
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Zeta Yarwood
Certified Executive Coach SCC I Career Coach | LinkedIn Top Voice I 🏆 Best Career Coach ‘21 I Helping leaders and professionals achieve fulfilment and success with confidence, clarity and purpose
I love the Gallup StrengthsFinder 2.0 assessment to identify strengths with my clients. It's affordable - $20 - $60 depending on how deep into the info you want to go. It not only tells you what your strengths are but it also shares an insight guide which gives examples of what you do well because of your strengths. By not only knowing what your strengths are but also the results they help you achieve, you begin to appreciate your talents and feel more confident in what you're bringing to the table.
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Chinsin Sim
Recruiting Lead at Robinhood | Talent Acquisition Mentor at First Round Fast Track
Everyone has their strengths and weaknesses. Owning and acknowledging them - well, that's another story! If you're a leader of a team, please don't be shy about hiring other seasoned and experienced experts to join the team as colleagues, direct reports and/or as advisors. This will not only uplevel you as an individual, but this will also make your organization stronger as a whole. Often times, leaders fear hiring employees who are more experienced and/or seasoned, which is definitely a trap. It's a cliche, but if you're often the smartest person in a room, your hiring process needs a seriously revamp.
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Ayuba Gadzama
Head, Human Resources at Oilserv Limited
You need to be emotionally intelligent about yourself to start with, to know what motivates you and make you tick. You also need to leverag on the strengths and development areas of yourself and that of your team to help fine tune your objectives. To cap it all, you need to choose the attitude to exhibit at all time and be deliberate that it is always a positive one.
Another way to increase your confidence is to set realistic and specific goals for yourself. Goals can help you clarify what you want to achieve, how you will measure your progress, and what steps you need to take. When setting goals, make sure they are SMART: specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound. By breaking down your goals into smaller and manageable tasks, you can also reduce your anxiety and celebrate your achievements.
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Zeta Yarwood
Certified Executive Coach SCC I Career Coach | LinkedIn Top Voice I 🏆 Best Career Coach ‘21 I Helping leaders and professionals achieve fulfilment and success with confidence, clarity and purpose
The brain works in a feedback loop. The more you see yourself set goals and achieve them, your brain starts to believe that you know what you're doing and have the right skills to achieve your goals. It's this "I know what I'm doing" that is essentially what we call confidence. We must be careful to set goals that stretch us but are realistic. By setting unrealistic goals we are setting ourselves up for failure. Going back to the feedback loop - if our brain sees us failing to achieve goals it will believe we're not capable or good enough and it will destroy our confidence.
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Jaqueline Garutti
Career & Leadership Consultant and Mentor | Career LinkedIn e Gupy Creator | Professional Brand and Career Portfolio Specialist - CV and LinkedIn | HR | Speaker and Facilitator
O foco principal não reside em alcançar rapidamente um objetivo, mas em progredir a cada etapa e apreciar a jornada. Quando definimos metas claras e específicas, elas nos fornecem um senso de direção e propósito, ao mesmo tempo que possibilitam a avaliação mensurável do nosso avanço.
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DEBORAH BROWN-VOLKMAN
Chief Career Officer (CCO) 🌺 Career Goals Expert 🥊 20+ Year Executive Career Coaching Expertise 🍄 Your Big Bold Career Pivot Partner
Goals. I can’t say enough about them. They give you clarity. They are the catalyst to getting things done. Don’t have a goal in mind? Stop what you are doing. Goals first; action second.
A third way to enhance your confidence is to seek feedback and support from others. Feedback can help you identify your areas of improvement, learn from your mistakes, and celebrate your successes. Support can help you cope with challenges, access resources, and share your experiences. You can seek feedback and support from various sources, such as your managers, mentors, coaches, peers, or networks. By being open to feedback and support, you can also demonstrate your willingness to learn and grow.
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Zeta Yarwood
Certified Executive Coach SCC I Career Coach | LinkedIn Top Voice I 🏆 Best Career Coach ‘21 I Helping leaders and professionals achieve fulfilment and success with confidence, clarity and purpose
We are by nature self-critical. We have a tendency to downplay our strengths and exaggerate our weaknesses. By seeking objective feedback from people who we trust but also know will give honest feedback, we can build a healthier self-image which is crucial for building confidence. Even those who are overly confident are often masking some degree of insecurity - it's a protection mechanism that stops us from deeply looking inward and coming face-to-face with our weaknesses. It's important to seek feedback regardless of your confidence levels to gain a more wholistic view of your progress - ideally working with a coach or mentor who can help soften the blow when "negative" feedback or shortcomings are highlighted.
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Jaqueline Garutti
Career & Leadership Consultant and Mentor | Career LinkedIn e Gupy Creator | Professional Brand and Career Portfolio Specialist - CV and LinkedIn | HR | Speaker and Facilitator
Quem faz perguntas busca respostas! Portanto, busque orientação e esteja disposto a ouvir até mesmo o que possa não gostar, pois isso é o que realmente o ajudará a identificar e trabalhar em seus pontos de melhoria. - Como você acha que estou me saindo no meu desenvolvimento e desafios atuais? - Você poderia me fornecer feedback sobre um desafio recente que enfrentei? - Existe alguém que você sugira como um mentor ou coach que possa me orientar?
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★ Dave Williams ★ - Executive Management Coach/Trainer
managementmasteryuniversity.com 👈 Helping businesses increase T/O by an average of 20% through leading leadership coaching and training with The Management M.A.S.T.E.R.Y. University programme
I beleive you like I have been programmed to focus on the negative by what is happening in society Because of this, most tend not to look for feedback believing it will be bad Always look for feedback as it is the breakfast of champions Feedback is either winning or learning and it is how we grow. Now bear in mind, feedback is just someone elses opinion and we all have opinions don't we? So when you receive feedback look for the elements where you can make the situation better next time as ultimately, you know deep down if you have done a good job or not If you have given your all you cannot do anymore than that although maybe, with feedback, you can tailor your efforts for even greater results Seek feedback as it will serve you well
A fourth way to improve your confidence is to embrace uncertainty and failure. Uncertainty and failure are inevitable parts of taking on new challenges, but they are not necessarily negative. Uncertainty can help you explore new possibilities, test your assumptions, and adapt to changing situations. Failure can help you learn valuable lessons, develop resilience, and overcome fear. By embracing uncertainty and failure, you can also develop a growth mindset, which is the belief that you can improve your abilities through effort and feedback.
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Shauna Cole
HireDiverse Diversity Job Board and Outreach Founder | Diversity and Inclusion | Chartered Professional in Human Resources | 90's RnB Expert
This resonates deeply with me, especially as an entrepreneur. Daring to venture into the unknown is often a critical part of our career journeys. However, the fear of failure can be overwhelming, especially in corporate settings that may not value the essence of experimentation. With the right backing though, what might initially appear as failures can transform into our most valuable learning experiences.
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Jaqueline Garutti
Career & Leadership Consultant and Mentor | Career LinkedIn e Gupy Creator | Professional Brand and Career Portfolio Specialist - CV and LinkedIn | HR | Speaker and Facilitator
Ambas são partes naturais do caminho para alcançar novos desafios e metas. Portanto, abraçar a incerteza e o fracasso pode ser uma maneira poderosa de construir confiança e alcançar o sucesso a longo prazo.
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Michelle Mancini
ERP Leader | Tech Career Coach | Writer | Compassionate Catalyst
This is something I come across often. People are too scared to take the new role or become a manager or go after the promotion because they think they do not know how to do the job. No one taking on a challenge has all the answers. Knowing you will come to a point where you are uncertain and you do not know what to do is important. Also know that you will figure it out. You don't have to do it alone, you can ask for help. Caring enough to give it your all to figure out what to do is what make successful leaders.
A fifth way to strengthen your confidence is to celebrate your achievements. Achievements can be big or small, as long as they reflect your efforts and progress. Celebrating your achievements can help you acknowledge your accomplishments, reward yourself, and motivate yourself. You can celebrate your achievements in various ways, such as sharing them with others, treating yourself, or reflecting on them. By celebrating your achievements, you can also reinforce your confidence and prepare yourself for the next challenge.
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Jaqueline Garutti
Career & Leadership Consultant and Mentor | Career LinkedIn e Gupy Creator | Professional Brand and Career Portfolio Specialist - CV and LinkedIn | HR | Speaker and Facilitator
Celebrar conquistas, sejam elas grandes ou pequenas, é fundamental para fortalecer nossa confiança e motivação, eu que o diga..rs, confesso que é um desafio para mim. A celebração me proporciona uma sensação de recompensa e prazer, o que me motiva a continuar perseguindo próximos desafios com entusiasmo. = )
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Lisa K. McDonald
Executive Career Coach, Speaker & Corporate Trainer | Specializing in Brand & Career Management, Leadership Development, Executive Presence | Navigating Your Next Career Move with Confidence & Clarity
📌 Celebrating your achievements, big or small, is a superpower. It reinforces how awesome you are and gives you the momentum and confidence to keep striving for your next goal. There’s another benefit – it will help you advance your career by learning how to talk about yourself without sounding like you’re bragging. Here's a concise guide to capturing the celebration: → Describe the challenge → Acknowledge where you were → Describe the process of your victory → Share your milestones by starting the story with the benefits of your results → Reward yourself; heck yeah, you deserve that! Regularly reflect on your stories for motivation or inspiration. They'll help you build confidence to tackle your next challenge. #careermanagement
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Martina Frahn♟️
𝗘𝗻𝘁𝘀𝗽𝗮𝗻𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗝𝗼𝗯𝘄𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗹 𝗺𝗶𝘁 𝟱𝟬𝗣𝗹𝘂𝘀 | Special: Karriereberatung von Personalerin zu Personaler*in | Podcasterin | Top HR-Influencerin 2023 (HRworks) | Wissen aus über 30 Jahren Praxis
Darauf zu schauen - und zwar mit Stolz - was man alles geschafft hat. Gegen welche Hindernisse man angehen musste. Das schafft Selbstvertrauen auch für zukünftiges Handeln. Gerade mit 50Plus kann meist auf viele ERfolge zurückschauen.
A sixth way to maintain your confidence is to challenge yourself regularly. Challenging yourself can help you expand your comfort zone, learn new skills, and discover new opportunities. You can challenge yourself in various ways, such as taking on new projects, volunteering for new roles, or learning new things. By challenging yourself regularly, you can also keep your confidence fresh and dynamic, and avoid complacency and stagnation.
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Anna Garcia (She/Her)
Communications Expert | Purpose Driven Leader | Champion of Sustainability, Equality, Inclusion & Diversity | Nature Enthusiast
You can't learn to swim without getting in the water... Similarly, you won't gain confidence by reading blogs about gaining confidence. (Albeit a great place to be inspired to take action.) Action comes first, confidence will follow. No one was a confident swimmer the first time they got in the water. Confidence comes with practice and grows over time with consistent effort. The same goes for confidence in taking on new challenges. Start with a small challenge and as you gain confidence in that environment, start to look for the next opportunity. Overtime you'll naturally find yourself seeking bigger challenges because you created the environment to allow your confidence to grow.
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Shauna Cole
HireDiverse Diversity Job Board and Outreach Founder | Diversity and Inclusion | Chartered Professional in Human Resources | 90's RnB Expert
Celebrating achievements is a cornerstone of confidence-building. In this process, having a supportive community plays an important role. These are the people who genuinely rejoice in your accomplishments and provide encouragement during your journey. It's often through these moments of triumphs and milestones that we can discern who we share meaningful relationships with. Their support and cheer not only magnify our celebrations but also provide a safety net for times when things don't go as planned. So, as we celebrate our achievements, we should also take a moment to appreciate those who've been there, celebrating with us.
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Jane Janniere
Founder of Hire Altitude Inc. | Top-Tier Talent Matchmaker Specializing in Accounting, Finance, Admin Support, Information Technology, & Cybersecurity | Career Coach | Interview Coach | Career Workshop Facilitator 🌟
Build confidence in your career by observing seasoned professionals and adopting their problem-solving, communication, and composure techniques. Take on manageable tasks that slightly stretch your abilities, and practice consistently to hone your skills. As you progress, incrementally increase the complexity of your challenges. It’s a step-by-step ascent, ensuring that with each new peak reached, you have the time to acclimate and the opportunity to reflect. Reflecting after each experience is just as important as the action itself. It allows you to discern which strategies are working and which aren’t and how to adjust your approach to suit your unique strengths and demands.
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Debra Boggs
Founder & CEO of D&S Executive Career Management | Executive Resume, Job Search & Board Bio Expert | Forbes NEXT 1000 Entrepreneur | Enthusiastic People Connector
Compare yourself to who you were yesterday, not someone else today. And remember that struggling means you're challenging yourself - it's not a sign of weakness but of strength.
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Paul Ssali
Professional Engineer with a Keen Interest in helping Others and Myself to Create Meaningful Work and Find Workplace Happiness by Sharing Useful Content Weekly
Challenge negative beliefs: Identify and un-learn negative beliefs that may be holding you back, such as societal expectations or self-doubt. Embrace learning and growth: Have a growth mindset and view challenges as opportunities for personal and professional growth. Embrace the idea that you can learn and improve from each new challenge. Step outside your comfort zone: Push yourself to step outside of your comfort zone and try new things. This will help you discover your capabilities and open up new opportunities. Set achievable goals: Set both short-term and long-term goals that are realistic and attainable. Achieving these goals will provide a sense of accomplishment and motivate you to take on more challenges.
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Debra Boggs
Founder & CEO of D&S Executive Career Management | Executive Resume, Job Search & Board Bio Expert | Forbes NEXT 1000 Entrepreneur | Enthusiastic People Connector
Remember that every learning experience, however imperfect, contributes new skills to rely upon in the future. Always remember this.