How to show confidence in work situations. - By: Timothy Rake

Several common work situations may test your confidence. This section offers advice on how to manage your confidence in meetings and during presentations. You can develop new skills, or competencies as they are often called in business, through training and practice. Nothing in business is impossible to master (certainly nothing is as difficult as learning to walk and talk, and most of us manage that).

If your employer is asking you to do something for which you do not yet have the requisite skill, you should insist on the training. And if you find yourself struggling with any task at work your first question should always be: How can I acquire the skill to do this better or faster? This will take you forward into growth and confidence, rather than shrinking backward into fear and avoidance. Have you ever sat in a meeting just bursting to make a telling point only to find that the discussion has moved on before you are able to get it in? Or have you come up with a brilliant idea after the meeting is over and felt if only you could go back in time and make the point everyone would acknowledge you for solving the problem or pointing up the unnoticed flaw in the argument? If you have, then congratulations, you are a fully functioning, normal human being. We’ve all done it. The main cause of such missed opportunities is the lack of balance between the two conversations that are going on in the meeting: the one in the room and the one in your head. When you are fully present and engaged in the meeting conversation, the conversation in your head fades into the background where it belongs most of the time. When you are feeling nervous or self-conscious, the dialogue in your head becomes redominant and prevents you from being fully engaged in the meeting. You may feel self-conscious just because you’re in unfamiliar territory. Focus on who is in the room, what they’re wearing, and so on just to bring yourself fully present. Understand that this is normal, and ease up on yourself. Accept that the more natural you can be in the meeting situation the more balance you will achieve between your inner and outer dialogues.

If you can become curious about how the external conversation is developing and how the meeting will turn out, you will find yourself naturally focused on the outer discussion. From this position your own ideas and comments come up more naturally and more appropriately, it will be easier for you to make your points and you will grow in confidence. Above all, relax. Whether the meeting is highly formal and large, or small and routine, the more engaged you become in the business of the meeting, the more effective your contribution becomes.

Good luck, and remember our tips the next time you're engaging in a work situation where you need some confidence. If you follow them, and practiuce regularly, you'll see improvement in a short time. Good luck!

About the Author

Tim has been writing articles related to self improvement for a long time, visit his website about the sansa docking station , and about white end tables !

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