The journey to building a career is one challenging rollercoaster ride. Personally, it has been a lot of ‘knocking’ and building relationships, but I couldn’t have done any of that without some level of confidence and persistence, and constantly reminding myself that ‘the worst that they can do is say no’. Without a little bit of confidence and believing that I can do it, I wouldn’t have made it this far. The more doors that opened, the more confident I got, but I had to START. The effects of lack of confidence on a person's career can be profound, impacting various aspects of one’s professional development and success. Here are some common effects and actions you can take to overcome this challenge:

Effects of Lack of Confidence on your career:

1. Limited Career Advancement: A lack of confidence can be a stumbling block, holding you back from pursuing career advancement opportunities, such as promotions, leadership roles, or even new job opportunities because you don’t believe you have what it takes, perhaps you don’t even believe you can thrive or make it. I know I felt like for some time. Constantly underestimating my abilities and hesitating to take on challenges that could propel my career forward.

2. Reduced Risk-Taking: Confidence is closely linked to risk-taking behavior. When you lack confidence, reluctance starts kicking in, making you less prone to take risks or step outside your comfort zones, thereby missing out on opportunities for growth, innovation, and professional development. Sometimes, for me, this is linked to my fear of ‘failure’, but I’ve taught myself to stop looking at my mistakes as just that, and to see them as opportunities to identify areas of growth.

3. Impaired Decision-Making: Confidence is essential for making effective decisions in the workplace, when you believe in yourself, you believe in what you do. But when doubt creeps in, you start to second-guess your choices, procrastinate on important decisions, or avoid making decisions altogether, leading to indecisiveness and stagnation.

4. Underperformance: Self-doubt can undermine performance and productivity, leading to mediocre results and missed targets. There’s so many instances where I’ve stumbled all over my words in a presentation because I wasn’t confident enough, and let me tell you, it sucked because at the core of it all, I knew that I was capable but I just couldn’t push myself beyond the state of doubt.

5. Imposter Syndrome: Many of us experience imposter syndrome, those constant feelings of inadequacy and self-doubt despite evidence of competence and success. Imposter syndrome can erode self-confidence and contribute to a persistent fear of being exposed as a fraud, hindering career advancement and causing undue stress and anxiety.

So, what do you do when you are faced with this barrier? Here are a few suggestions:

1. Build Self-Awareness: The first step in overcoming lack of confidence is to develop self-awareness and identify the root causes of self-doubt. Reflect on your strengths, weaknesses, and past accomplishments, and challenge negative self-talk and limiting beliefs that undermine your confidence by reminding yourself of how far you’ve come, the amazing things you’ve done in the past, and remind yourself that you are THAT person, and she is YOU.

2. Set Realistic Goals: Break down your long-term career goals into smaller, manageable milestones, and celebrate your achievements along the way. Sometimes we burden ourselves by putting too much pressure on ourselves. Setting and achieving realistic goals can boost confidence and provide a sense of accomplishment that fuels further progress.

3. Seek Feedback and Support: Reach out to trusted mentors, colleagues, or friends for feedback and support, and remember to keep an open mind when you do receive the feedback. Constructive feedback can help you identify areas for improvement and build confidence in your abilities, while supportive relationships provide encouragement and validation.

4. Practice Self-Compassion: Treat yourself with kindness and compassion, especially in moments of self-doubt or failure. Acknowledge that everyone experiences setbacks and challenges on their career journey, and learn to forgive yourself for mistakes and what you perceive as shortcomings.

5. Take Action Despite Fear: Recognize that fear and discomfort are natural parts of growth and progress. Instead of waiting for confidence to magically appear, take action despite feeling afraid or uncertain. Each small step you take towards your goals builds momentum and confidence over time.

Lastly, always remember to celebrate your achievements, no matter how small. Take pride in your accomplishments and recognize the effort and perseverance it took to reach your goals. Celebrating successes boosts morale and reinforces your confidence in your ability to succeed, even if it’s an old achievement, take time to celebrate or re- celebrate it..

Confidence is not a fixed trait, but a skill that can be developed and nurtured with time, practice, and self-compassion.