Portraying Confidence as a Young Professional
Have you ever felt nervous starting your first significant role at a company? Or when you began your professional career and felt as though you didn’t belong? These feelings are completely normal for a young person entering the workforce as it is unknown territory. However uncomfortable and abnormal it may feel, it is important to portray a level of confidence when going into these roles. I have faced setbacks due to a lack of confidence, and now I see that overcoming these fears has led me to be the best version of myself in the professional world.
Focus On Your Strengths
I recently became a manager at a frozen yogurt shop in Grand Rapids, which I did not know much about (and still don’t to this day). However, I am extremely well-versed in organization and managing my time effectively. I used those strengths to gain knowledge in my new role. When starting, it is important to first consider what your strengths might be. This could be anything from your organization to your leadership abilities; you determine it all! Focusing solely on your strengths as a professional can be an effective strategy for achieving success and personal fulfillment in your career. This approach, often referred to as strengths-based development, involves emphasizing and maximizing your natural talents and abilities while minimizing the attention given to weaknesses. Leveraging your strengths can boost your confidence and self-esteem. Success in your areas of strength can create a positive feedback loop, making you more self-assured and willing to take on new challenges.
Learn From Mistakes & Eliminate Negative Self-deprecation
During the first week of being a manager, I learned to not talk down to myself and to grow from my mistakes. In one instance, I accidentally ordered 15 cases of Sour Patch Kids, instead of the 2 that were needed. If you don’t know how much that is … imagine carrying around an 80 lb. weight. This occurrence caused me to doubt my abilities. Looking back, I see that learning from mistakes is a powerful way to gain confidence as it helps you develop resilience and self-awareness. It always helps to remember that confidence is not about never making mistakes. Rather, it's about having faith in your ability to learn and grow from them. It is a powerful skill to embrace mistakes as stepping stones to greater success in your professional life.
Self-deprecation is all about your mindset towards yourself. Similar to focusing on strengths, the first step in avoiding self-deprecation is to become aware of when you're engaging in it. Pay attention to your self-talk and the negative comments or thoughts you direct toward yourself. When you notice yourself going down that path look back at your strengths and remind yourself you are doing the best you can! Avoiding self-deprecation is an ongoing process, so it is normal to have moments of self-doubt. But, by cultivating a positive self-image, you can gradually reduce self-deprecating behaviors and develop greater self-confidence.
Ask For Feedback
The scariest thing about starting somewhere new is the feeling that others are judging you for your skills. While it may not feel like it, asking for help in a professional setting is a common and important part of career growth and problem-solving. In order for others to help you, it’s important to know what exactly you need help with! When a mistake is made, it’s important to seek feedback from those who were involved. Listen to their perspectives and consider their insights with respect. Constructive feedback can provide valuable lessons for improvement which in turn will build confidence.
Confidence Is Key!
The overall message for anyone who is young and feeling out of place in your new career is that you are not alone! It is a feeling that everyone higher up in the company has felt at some point or another. These scary transitions don’t only happen when you are starting, either. Even CEOs experience situations they are unfamiliar with. These situations may range from being unfamiliar with team building, all the way to not knowing how to do crisis management properly. The most important thing to keep in mind is believing in yourself and remembering that you are not alone in these uncertain moments. Confidence is key!
About Lauren
Lauren Luce is a Junior who is studying Advertising and Public Relations at GVSU. This is Lauren’s first year in Grand PR and GVPRSSA. She is an Account Associate for GrandPR, which is Grand Valley State University’s student-run integrated communications firm. She loves doing creative writing in her free time and plans on using that for her future endeavors. In her free time, she loves going to the gym, going for nature walks, and playing with her kitten Kali. After graduation, Lauren’s dream job would consist of working on the creative side of PR for a major corporation and helping out with media coordination while having the ability to travel.
