It can take a long time to find the career path that is right for you, and even then, it can take a period of adjustment as you find your feet in your new role. Starting a job with a new team and/or in a different company can be overwhelming at first, and you might find yourself feeling self-conscious or worried about making a good impression. Not only do you want to get along with your colleagues, but you also want to prove that you are an invaluable member of the team that is great at their job. However, if you do feel out of your depth as you settle into your new role this can knock your confidence, and in turn, this can impact your overall performance.
If you have recently been feeling a lack of confidence at work, whether it is a new job or not, consider the following suggestions and see how they might help you to change this.
1. Write a List of Your Strengths and Weaknesses
When you have some free time, sit down and think about what you believe are your strengths and weaknesses when it comes to your new role. Being able to identify where you think there is room for improvement can help you move forward and start developing those skills to enhance your performance at work. Equally, acknowledging your strengths can help to give you some positive reinforcement and remind you that you’re not entirely lost when it comes to your new role. You could even ask your manager for some feedback if you think this would be useful to help you improve.
2. Practice Good Self-care
If you aren’t taking care of yourself this can impact both your physical and mental health, which might be making you feel more negative about your performance at work and your new job. Practising good self-care, such as getting into a good sleep routine, eating healthy meals, and doing some regular exercise during the week can all help you to stay energized and feel more positive overall. In turn, this more positive attitude can help to give you a confidence boost.
3. Keep Learning
There is always room for improvement and learning more about your job role and the industry you’re in can help you achieve this. Staying informed by following relevant blogs, magazines, etc., that are related to your industry can be useful for this and will reflect your interest and passion for your job. You might also want to consider pursuing educational courses such as a post-graduate degree or something similar as this can be an excellent way to develop your skills and learn more about the kind of career you have chosen to pursue. You can even do online courses, such as this online DBA, or something relevant to your job so that you can fit your studies around your work schedule.
4. Get to Know Your Colleagues
Another way you will feel more settled in your new role is by getting to know your new colleagues. This might feel a little bit intimidating at first, but the more you get to know the rest of your team the more comfortable you will feel. If you are invited to after-work drinks with the group, take up this invitation as it can be easier to get to know each other outside of the office. Other things you can try in the office include offering to make people a coffee when you are getting one for yourself, engaging in conversation over lunch, or even offering to help them out with certain tasks if you have completed yours for the moment.
5. Take Advantage of Mentorship Schemes
Some workplaces have mentorship schemes in place for individuals who are interested to learn a specific set of skills to help with their career progression, and if your new place of work has something similar in place you might want to consider taking advantage of this. This can help you to feel more confident as you’ll be continuing to learn, but you’ll also have a mentor who can offer you support and useful feedback regarding your performance. It can also be a good opportunity to forge a friendship or a closer professional relationship with your mentor.
6. Dress the Part
It might seem superficial, but when you look smart it can help you to feel more confident. Of course, the way you dress for work will largely depend on the dress code set out in your workplace, as some prefer office attire whereas others might opt for something more casual. Either way, make sure that you are dressed appropriately for work but in something that makes you feel good. This can help you to feel more positive and ultimately more confident when you walk into the office.
7. Get Organised
Being organised is essential if you want to get through your daily tasks and meet your deadlines, but it can be easy for this to slip if you’re not careful. If you do find yourself feeling overwhelmed and worried about your performance at work, taking back some control and organising yourself can make a huge difference. Breaking down your tasks into smaller, more manageable pieces can make them seem less intimidating and give you back some of your confidence. You’ll also notice how much easier and quicker it is to get through your workload, which will improve your performance too.
8. Learn to Switch Off
This can be easier said than done, particularly if you’re worried about something at work. However, sometimes the best thing to do is step away from an issue and give yourself some distance. Learning to switch off and giving yourself time to do the things you love or simply relax each day is key. This will help to boost your mood and refresh your mind, which could help you to find the solutions that you’re looking for easier and make you feel more confident at work in the long term.
Starting a new job can be exciting but it can also be intimidating, and this can impact your overall confidence. If you want to start feeling more confident at work, consider the suggestions above and see if some or all of them could be beneficial to you.
David Prior
David Prior is the editor of Today News, responsible for the overall editorial strategy. He is an NCTJ-qualified journalist with over 20 years’ experience, and is also editor of the award-winning hyperlocal news title Altrincham Today. His LinkedIn profile is here.
