Confidence and assertiveness are the pillars upon which South African careers rest. Successful professionals from South Africa have discovered the many benefits of being assertive in the workplace and avoiding the many pitfalls of getting too submissive or aggressive. In an interview with a seasoned executive, the following ideas were shared that were relevant to career management and performance: First impressions do not last forever. It is important to maintain a positive and confident self image at all times.
The first step to improving your self-confidence is to understand how your behavior affects others. For example, if you have negative body language, you may feel less confident when trying to perform certain tasks in the workplace. To gain an insight into how you might be interacting with others, examine how you walk, speak, sit or dress. Pay attention to how you respond to situations.
When making a networking request, think like a professional. You would rather avoid someone who is clearly not interested in you and your business, because they would look like a challenge. Instead, you would rather become friends with the person, if you feel that you share some of the same values and interests. If you are unable to maintain a friendly conversation despite having met the person earlier in the day, it is likely that they do not like you and this can lead to further tension between you. Instead, opt for an initial meeting to build rapport, and then politely decline the networking request.
Although assertiveness may sometimes seem like an attractive trait, it can also often lead to feelings of inferiority and unworthiness. If you think that you are not confident in yourself, you could try taking a number of personality tests. These will help you identify whether you have high or low self confidence, and which areas need to be improved.
It is also important to remember that assertiveness can sometimes have an opposite effect. If you are too assertive, you could come across as arrogant, regardless of whether you have high or low self-esteem. The key is to strike a fine balance between assertiveness and humility. Remember that you can be confident and humble at the same time.
Avoiding difficult conversations directly addresses one of the main problems that leads to low self-esteem. When you avoid uncomfortable topics like conflict or rejection, you may feel good right now, but it can soon follow that you feel unworthy and unattractive. If you are used to being the centre of attention, avoiding these types of topics may be difficult. However, if you have decided that it is important for you to be successful in your chosen field and that avoiding tough situations is a crucial part of that process, you should follow your own rules. There is no point in pretending to like things when you really don't.
One way you can overcome your shyness and feel good about yourself is to focus your energy in making progress in your chosen field. If you are like most people, you would rather avoid potential problems rather than confront them. However, if you are dedicated to your work and are making an honest effort to improve, you will be better equipped to tackle problems that may arise. Being prepared and working towards your goals will demonstrate your commitment to excellence. As a result, you will be more likely to overcome shyness and feel confident when confronting difficult conversations.
In conclusion, being confident and assertive are not mutually exclusive traits. In fact, learning how to use them in tandem is a good way to raise your self-confidence level and make yourself more effective. Overcoming shyness and feeling timid is hard, but with a combination of assertiveness and good communication skills, you can get through it. Don't let shyness hold you back from your dreams.
