2020 was a challenging year for everybody – A new year allows us to look forward to new beginnings on who you want to be, on your career, and how you want to spend the rest of the year. Goal setting is an essential tool in helping us navigate the next 12 months with confidence and hopefulness.  As we quickly progress into 2021, start setting your goals today and learn how it will help you build self-confidence.

Wow!  What a year we had in 2020 – where everything we had planned for ourselves went straight out the window.  Even if you were agile and were able to turn things around, it will have at times been a blow when you saw your plans disrupted by the global pandemic.  January is typically a time for making resolutions and planning the year ahead but in this current climate of lockdowns, disruptions, and loss of normalcy, it would be understandable to ask yourself, why set goals for 2021?

Goal setting is vital to ensure that you remind yourself about your why, the direction you want to head and the steps you need to take to get there.  It keeps you focused.  And in combining these, you are dramatically increasing the odds of achieving your dreams, whatever they are.  A good place to start, is by (re)building your confidence.  In short, you are setting yourself up for success.

Confidence is much talked about and yet it is still one of the most consistent issues that sets everyone, especially women, back in their careers. According to a study by the Institute of Management and Leadership, over half of female managers in the UK reported to a lack self-belief and confidence, in their professional abilities which leads to a cautious approach to career opportunities. Compared to less than a third of their male counterparts who reported the same. Even trailblazing women like Michelle Obama and Sheryl Sandberg suffer from self-doubt.  Yet why is it so important and what can you do to build it to enhance your career?

Confidence is the stuff that turns thoughts into action

Confidence is a critical ingredient for happiness – at home and at work.  Having self-confidence means acknowledging and believing in yourself and having a sense of control and a positive outlook in your life.  You understand what makes you tick, what your strengths are – and play to those, and you do not allow your weaknesses to derail you.  You stand firm for your needs and in doing so, are able to support others around you.

Those with self-confidence are more able to communicate effectively, being open to listening, as well as articulating their needs.  Decision making is less fraught with needless stress and more focused on what’s important.  You are a happier person and can ultimately bring your true, authentic self to work.  In short developing self-confidence allows you to be a constructive and optimal colleague in the workplace, and partner at home. 

Finding your confidence during a pandemic.

During the best of times confidence is difficult to find and maintain. The pandemic has disrupted normal operations for millions around the world leaving many functioning in a vacuum and unable to demonstrate to others, their capabilities. Working behind a video screen just is not the same as working in a physical office environment where you may have relied on your interpersonal skills to demonstrate your abilities and get things done. Its also clear that the lockdowns and reduced abilities to socialize has also put extra strain on the mental health of workers increasing anxiety and stress. With ongoing job losses and reduced economic security further exacerbating self-doubt.

As the pandemic continues to disrupt and negatively impact our lives with women in particularly suffering a greater loss of self-esteem, there are a few steps that can go a long way to boost your confidence in these difficult times.

Here are some useful Tips:

Accept This is beyond your control:

Accepting difficult situations like a job loss or having to home school your child whilst you know you may not be fully equipped or working remotely is difficult, but most importantly accepting that the events are beyond your control are crucial to building a bridge to your self-esteem.

Practice Self Compassion

During these challenging times its so easy to beat yourself up and find fault in everything you do but its important to practice self-care tell yourself how great you are and treat yourself like the great person you are accordingly. Maybe it is time for a staycation?

Build Your Tribe

The pandemic has tested all of us and left many of us feeling vulnerable and alone, gone are the social gatherings, or short walks with your close colleagues now many of us are spending days in isolation. When we are at our most vulnerable, asking for help can prove difficult – but now is the time to reach out for help and build your community of like-minded friends, colleagues or social groups that give you a boost of confidence when you are feeling down.

The wonders of goal setting to building confidence.

• By setting goals, action plans and working towards it strengthens your sense of accomplishment and pride. Which goes a long way in these times of crisis. This in turn improves self-confidence.

• As you set your goals and develop an action plan towards it, the process of actively pursuing it works as an internal self-driver, that will reveal a lot about yourself and your capabilities. Allowing you to know your inner strengths a lot more.

• Decision making and Problem solving: Setting goals and attaining them are like pieces of a puzzle. You will need to overcome challenges and fit the pieces together to form the whole picture. The activity of goal setting improves your cognitive skills and enhances your decision-making capabilities equipping you to face any difficulties that may await you.

Remember that if you have confidence in yourself, then others will in you too.  And the reverse can be true if you’re not careful.  So, get out there and show the world how amazing you are!