Building Confidence and Overcoming Doubts in the Workplace

We may like to think that when we hit adulthood, we get strong, confident, set for life. But, psychologists tell us that's not how it works at all. ↴

Throughout our lives, most of us still depend on others to tell us what we're doing is good, and right. We need that pat on the back, that reassuring "you're doing great!" from those around us.
 
That's why feeling like an outsider at work can hurt so much. Being left out of the lunch group or those crucial "meetings-after-the-meeting" can make you feel invisible. When we get signals that we don't belong, we can become ever less confident. We may even start to feel like a fraud.
 
This can be deadly for your ability to make impact and move up in Corporate America, where respecting and trusting yourself is a prerequisite for gaining the respect and trust of others.
 
The challenge, then, is to stop obsessing over what others think of us, and instead to develop a deeper and stronger sense of our own selves. Know what you stand for, what matters to you, and the impact you want to make, big or small.
 
My own journey with this started when at age 31, I was appointed Deputy Mayor of Los Angeles, and started leading economic and workforce development in a world city where 90+ languages are spoken. Lots of people questioned whether I belonged in that role.

Helping people navigate cultural differences to achieve their goals became my goal, and remains so today as I lead the Multicultural Leadership Institute.

For 20+ years now, It's been so helpful to have a north star to guide me in choosing what I focus on each day. It's helped me to care a lot less about the opinions of others. And in turn, to become strong and brave, and thus have the space to contribute to my max.
 
❣What are the values and goals guiding YOU right now?