Four ways to be a confidence ally at work

In a survey with 800 workers across various industries, Indeed found that 98% of respondents said they perform better when they are confident.

The case for improving confidence among employees is clear not only is it good for individuals, it’s also good for business.

So, how can you be a confidence ally at work? Whether you have direct reports or not, you can make an impact on those around you.

A confidence ally is someone who is willing to take the time to support colleagues, positively drive change in workplace culture, and demonstrate behaviors that serve as a model to leaders and other co-workers.

Here are four examples of ways to be a confidence ally at work:

1. Recognize people. Regularly celebrate and thank them for their effort, time, and successes. Send an email expressing your appreciation. Create a “team wins” slide for every staff or town hall meeting, so that everyone can acknowledge the great work. When people feel seen, and their efforts are acknowledged, it can go a long way to making them more confident.
2. Give team members visibility. Letting others shine is not only great leadership behavior, it also demonstrates that you believe in them. If you are a people leader, allow your team to deliver presentations to executives based on the work they are doing. If you have co-workers with whom you are partnering on a project, send an email to a supervisor to let him/her/them know about the progress that specific employees are making. (The added bonus: spotlighting the achievements of others also goes a long way to boosting our own confidence.)
3. Support taking calculated risks. Fear of failure is often a contributor to lack of confidence. Show your fellow employees that it’s not only ok to fail, it’s going to be understood, and you can agree upon boundaries for what’s considered calculated risk. Mistakes will also undoubtedly happen at work, and how you react to those errors will go a long way to decreasing or increasing confidence. Those moments matter.
4. Foster a culture of progress. Focusing on small advances and accomplishments along the way, rather than striving for perfection, can be a confidence enhancer. Every little win counts and when we see those add up, it can give us the motivation and mental fuel to try something new.

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