How To Feel More Authentically Confident

 / 

Letโ€™s face it, when it comes to feeling authentically confident at work sometimes we have it, and โ€ฆ sometimes we donโ€™t. Yet we all want it for ourselves, especially in those moments when we hesitate, hold ourselves back or dim ourselves down when it matters most.

Unfortunately, it seems that many of us misunderstand what it takes to feel authentically confident at work, believing weโ€™d need to act like assertive jerks who insist our opinions be heard, dismiss other peopleโ€™s ideas or demand we get what weโ€™re worth. Instead,ย researchers suggestย that confidence is simply the ability to turn our thoughts into action. And this is why when it comes to our careers,ย studies are findingย that confidence is more important than competence.

So just what does it take to feel more authentically confident at work?

Why Is Feeling Authentically Confident So Hard?

After years of lagging in the confidence stakes, I canโ€™t help but wonder if women are beginning to find a unique and effective approach to feeling more confident at work.

confidence

You see while there is no doubt that both men and women experience feelings of self-doubt,ย researchers have foundย women generally suffer a greater lack of confidence at work causing them to ask for pay rises four times less frequently, negotiate salaries of 30% less and not put themselves forward for promotions unless they meet 100% of the qualifications necessary for a job.

But why do women struggle so much with confidence? In this episode of Chelle McQuaid TV, Iโ€™ll share what the latest science has discovered about the female brain and how women and men can use this to their advantage when it comes to feeling more authentically confident at work.

Related: 29 Proven Ways To Build Your Self-Confidence

Can Developing Your Strengths Improve Your Confidence?

While studies suggestย that the male and female brains are largely the same, it appears there are some small but important differences when it comes to confidence.ย For example:

  • Researchers estimateย that at any one time the female brain has 30% more neurons firing particularly in the thinking and feeling parts of our brain causing us to ruminate and go over and over things.
  • Thereโ€™s also a small part of the human brain called the cingulate gyrus, often referred to by researchers as the worry wart because thatโ€™s what it does โ€“ it helps us to weigh options and recognize errors โ€“ and itโ€™sย larger in the female brain.
  • Finally, of course,ย women generally experienceย higher levels of estrogen, which drives us to avoid conflict and risk, and lower levels of testosterone, which helps fuel risk-taking and winning.

Is it any wonder we feel less confident!

But while this neurological and hormonal cocktail, and our experiences at school, at home and in society may cause us to hesitate be it for fear of failure, a desire to do it perfectly or the need to be liked,ย researchers also reportย that a large part of confidence actually comes down to the choices we make each day as weโ€™re going about our jobs.

And when it comes down to turning our thoughts into action, the best-selling authors ofย The Confidence Codeย Katty Kay and Claire Shipman suggest authenticity may be the linchpin choice. By making a virtue out of our differences instead of trying to hide, erase or change them, we allow confidence to emanate from our core.

Perhaps this is why in aย recent studyย I conducted with the VIA Institute across 1,000 randomly selected American employees representative of the US working population, we found that 68% of women now believed that building on their strengths โ€“ rather than fixing their weaknesses โ€“ is the key to their success at work.

As a result 58% of women, compared to 53% of men, now reported being able to name their top five strengths โ€“ the things theyโ€™re good at and actually enjoy doing. And 52% of women, compared to 46% of men say they have the opportunity to do what they do best each day at work.

Having taught thousands of people how to put their strengths to work, I have to say my personal experience echoes the data. While both women and men benefit from developing their strengths, women embrace this change much faster as it seems to finally give them permission to feel authentically confident about the unique value that they bring.

Related: This Optical Illusion Test Reveals Your Secret Strengths And Weaknesses

Given researchersย have found that the knowledge and use of our strengths is significantly associated with feeling more confident, perhaps itโ€™s no surprise that for the women who use their strengths at work each day, 76% believe they are making a difference and that what they do is appreciated and 69% describe themselves as flourishing over the last six months.

If youโ€™re keen to feel more authentically confident at work then head on over toย www.strengthschallenge.comย for a free step-by-step guide to discovering your strengths and a busy-proof approach to start using them to turn your thoughts into action in just 11 minutes each day.


Written by: ย Michelle McQuaidย 
Originally appeared on Michellemcquaid.com
Republished with permission.

Feel More Authentically Confident pin

— Share —

— About the Author —

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Up Next

Things People Learn Too Late In Life: 7 Eye-Opening Life Lessons

Things People Learn Too Late in Life Eye Opening Life Lessons

Life is full of unexpected events and sometimes there are things people learn too late. Though some lessons come with age and experience, as time goes by, we often wish we had known some important truths sooner.

These moments of truth can be very shocking as well as transformative, they help us live authentically, appreciate what truly matters, and make the most of our time. Below are seven crucial life lessons people learn too late and can still change the way they approach life.

7 Things People Learn Too Late In

Up Next

Anger and Emotions: What’s Really Setting Us Off?

Anger and Emotion Whats Really Setting Us Off

Ever wonder whatโ€™s really fueling your anger and emotions? Discover how a mindful approach can help you regain inner peace in your life!

Taking a mindful approach to exploring why we are angry.

Key points

Anger is a secondary emotion.

Anger is a warning sign that lets us know there is an issue to address.

Knowing what we are feeling will help us to address the source of our anger.

Anger can hit us when we least expect it. There are some people who get angry and not know what they are angry about. The

Up Next

How I Hacked My Personality: Steps To Be The Better Version Of Myself

How I Hacked My Personality

Can we truly reshape our personalities for lasting change? Discover Dr. Shannon Sauer-Zavala’s article “How I hacked my personality” and learn how small shifts in mindset and behavior can lead to meaningful transformation in your life.

A Personal Perspective: Science-backed strategies for intentional trait change.

Key points

Research suggests that personality changes over time.

We can speed up personality change by taking intentional action.

Changes that are reinforced by the environment are easier to maintain.

Up Next

Women Empowerment: The Rebecca Effect in “Ted Lasso”

Rebecca Effect In Ted Lasso Women Empowerment

Can women turn negative experiences into empowerment? Discover the โ€œRebecca Effectโ€ from Ted Lasso and transform your personal trials into powerful self-acceptance!

Personal Perspective: Empowering women to transform shame and betrayal.

Key points

“Ted Lasso” inspired with imperfect, endearing characters whose trials and transformations mirrored our own.

The โ€œRebecca Effectโ€ is the empowerment and transformation possible when we have been oppressed or shamed.

The “Rebecca Effect” is the process through which women embrace themselves in totality.

Up Next

The Healing Power of Emotional Tears

The Healing Power of Emotional Tears

Ever wondered why we shed emotional tears? Tears serve a healing purpose. Explore how it plays an important role for our well-being.

Emotional tears are an expression of our shared humanity.

Emotional tears, expressed by children, teens, and adults, are a universal experience observed across the globe. Emotional tears play a healing role, leading to our emotional and physical well-being. This post explores the value of emotional tears and the importance of presence and support from family and friends during unexpected

Read More Here: โ€œWhy Am I Always On The Verg

Up Next

10 Important Weekly Reflection Questions You Need To Ask Yourself

If you feel stuck and want to keep track of your goals every week, then weekly reflection questions can really help you. Weekly reflection questions can help you check in with yourself and make sure youโ€™re headed in the right direction. These are the questions you need to ask yourself every week to keep growing and moving forward.

Have you ever had a week with so much going on that you end the week feeling overwhelmed and exhausted? I know I have been there. Sometimes, the week goes by so fast that itโ€™s over before I know it, and there is no time left to process it.

A weekly reflection can help evaluate if what you are doing is working. It fosters self-growth. So, pull out that weekly reflection journal and answer the weekly reflection prompts below.

Up Next

Why Is Lying Wrong? Morals Are Not The Only Reason

โ€œI must not tell liesโ€œ, this famous line from Harry Potter is more than just a dialogue. Dolores Umbridge, made Harry Potter cut these words as a permanent mark on the back of his hand. But if asked โ€œWhy is lying wrong?โ€ The answer is always moralistic, which is subjective.

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});

We have all received punishment