Some people seem to have it all together. You know the type: The peppy employee who is always ready to share their ideas or take on new assignments. Their can-do attitude manages to convince those around them, including themselves, that they're an asset. There's one feeling they embrace that many struggle to find: confidence.
Some workers are wracked with doubt and fear, unable to take necessary risks or voice their insights. However, confidence is as much a skill as it is an outlook.
To succeed in business – and life – it is important to avoid confidence-killing beliefs and manage, sometimes with great restraint, difficult personalities.
Here are five confidence killers and how to beat them.
5 confidence killers in the workplace
1. Perfectionism
High-performing employees often pressure themselves to attain ridiculous, unrealistic standards, and sometimes become discouraged when they fail to achieve them, said Helene Lerner, author of The Confidence Myth (Berrett-Koehler Publishers, 2015) and founder of WomenWorking.com, a career website for women.
Everyone has different strengths and weaknesses. Every time you fall short on a project, ask yourself if you gave it your all. If you did, know that you are human and cannot do everything perfectly – and accept that.
"We have to stop the negative chatter and tell ourselves our best is good enough," Lerner said. "Make it an inner mantra."
2. Micromanager bosses
Being micromanaged can make a person feel like they aren't good enough. Why else would the boss be nitpicking and telling you exactly how to complete a task?
In most cases, you probably aren't doing anything wrong. Lerner noted that fear is usually underneath controlling behavior.
"[Your boss's] micromanaging probably has more to do with how that person feels about him or herself, not you," she said.
If you're truly confident, no one can tear you down. A micromanager might strike some insecurities in you, but remind yourself how far you've come and where you want to go.
[Read Related: How to Manage Effectively]
3. Disengagement at work
One of the most common reasons for feeling disconnected from your job, and therefore lacking confidence in it, is doing work that doesn't leverage your skills. Everyone has talents and abilities, and if you're not using them at your job, you may want to consider other opportunities, Lerner suggested.
Another option is to maintain an optimistic and encouraging attitude toward your performance at work. If you're feeling indifferent, try a different perspective or approach. Maybe you fell into a rut or a routine that drains you. Switch it up; take a different approach that hones your passions. What can you do differently that might make your job more enjoyable? Don't be afraid to discuss this with your employer.
4. Fear of failure
Everyone experiences fear – some more than others. It's crucial, though, to face fear head-on.
"Fear can be so crippling that it holds people back in ways they don't even realize, whether it be fear of speaking up in meetings, so the employee is seen as someone who doesn't contribute much value, or fear of being yourself, instead trying to emulate a boss and never learning to really own what is unique and special about you," said Heather Monahan, founder of career mentoring group #BossinHeels and author of Confidence Creator (Boss in Heels, 2018).
Of course, you want to "get it right" in your career, but your fear of "failing" shouldn't stand in your way of trying something new. A project may not turn out as planned, and you may make mistakes. As long as you learn from those experiences, you haven't truly failed, Lerner said.
5. Uncooperative or critical colleagues
Working with rude, arrogant, or otherwise unpleasant colleagues can lower your job satisfaction, especially if their negativity is directed at you. As with micromanagers, Lerner urges professionals not to take the behavior too personally, but she advises making an effort to work things out with your colleague.
"Clean up your side of the street," she said. "Is there anything you are doing to contribute to the [negative] situation? If so, take appropriate action."
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How to be confident at work
Lerner and Monahan offered several tips that they've seen help many individuals time and time again. Lerner said people who want to beat these confidence killers and advance their careers should be willing to step outside their comfort zone and take risks that enable them to accomplish their goals. For example, Lerner advised offering thoughtful suggestions in meetings, stepping in to help without being asked, and seeking a trusted second opinion that encourages you to make a move you'd been considering.
"To build confidence at work, you need to use your voice," added Monahan. "Whether that means contributing your ideas in a meeting or letting someone know you are speaking when someone is attempting to talk over you, there are countless opportunities in any day to build your confidence."
Monahan advised being mindful of how you speak and what you say. For instance, rather than apologizing, say, "Excuse me" or "Thank you." When pitching an idea, instead of saying, "I feel this will work," say, "This will work because ..."
"Firing certain expressions from your vocabulary will create a quick shift for you," Monahan said.
Also, added Monahan, there's no need for self-deprecating humor. While it might seem innocent and healthy to laugh at yourself, it hurts your confidence. When you present yourself as innocent, you're sending a signal to others that you see yourself as lacking relevant experience, and revealing these thoughts can be dangerous.
Instead of downplaying your intelligence or your contributions, present your ideas and actions without calling your worth into question. Instead of attempting to land a joke such as, for example, "Here comes another idea from a less qualified person," present your idea how a co-worker whom you admire might – without any qualifiers or self-deprecating humor.
If a situation arises and you feel you need to acknowledge that you might not have as much experience as others in your office, position that knowledge gap as a strength. You could say something like, "My fresh perspective on this topic gave me an idea that's out of the box, but I feel deeply confident it could be the solution we all need." In other words, take what makes you feel unsure and imagine it not as an obstacle, but an advantage. Your confidence will follow.
"Confidence is something that is created, not given," said Monahan. "The sooner you accept responsibility for creating yours, the faster you will change your life and begin to create a future you will be excited about. In any moment, you are either chipping away at your confidence or building it. You decide."
Sammi Caramela also contributed to the reporting and writing in this article. Some source interviews were conducted for a previous version of this article.