How to build your self-confidence as a project professional

When you’re shouldering responsibility for successful delivery, keeping to budgets and satisfying stakeholders – all while being buffeted by any number of unexpected hiccups – self-confidence is a must for project professionals.

However, for those new to the profession, or from under-represented minorities, self-confidence can be especially hard to gain and maintain.

But the real beauty of self-confidence is that it’s a virtuous circle. When you exude confidence in yourself, it will increase people’s belief in you – to the ultimate benefit of the project.

If you’re wondering how you can walk into project meetings with greater faith in your own knowledge and skills, here are five tips to help…

1. Keep it real

True self-confidence comes from establishing a solid foundation. It can’t be built on grounds that aren’t genuine.

“A lot of people will advise you to fake it till you make it,” says Helen Jane Campbell, a coach for creative people. “I strongly disagree. Find your authentic self-confidence, not an imitation version of you.”

Unsure where to locate that? Campbell believes you can nurture self-confidence by taking simple actions every day. For starters, she recommends identifying what helps you feel grounded and present, whether that’s wearing bright colours, doing the more demanding work in the early morning, or taking a regular lunchtime stroll so you feel more like yourself.

“Think about what you need to be at ease, because being relaxed can improve confidence,” she says.

2. Understand your own thinking

Roxie Nafousi is the author of Confidence: Eight Steps to Knowing Your Worth. She appeared on the A Really Good Cry podcast in September and offered tools to transform your inner voice “from the heckler to the cheerleader”. 

“So much of change is about finding a new place of comfort with the way you talk to yourself,” she said. 
The secret here is becoming aware of our thought patterns and what shapes them.

“All the meaning we attach to any experience is being viewed through a lens, which is made murky by our current state of mind, our belief systems and our wounds,” said Nafousi. “Unless we process and figure out what lens we’re looking at things through, we’ll always be controlled by our past.”

3. Rehearse the role

Campbell suggests practising being more confident in low-stakes situations – from stating your preferences when ordering a coffee to asking a colleague to help you run through difficult conversations.  

“This can give you the chance to try different approaches and see what natural confidence looks like for you, before you face a challenging client or senior leader,” she says.

When it comes to meetings, any level of advanced preparation can provide a huge confidence boost. 
“Be proactive in finding out about the topic and what’s expected of you, and do some quiet thinking around the subject,” Campbell says. “When it’s time to contribute, it probably won't feel so daunting.”

4. Do your reps

Obsessing over the skills you lack, or the experience you don’t have, will only increase your fear of challenging situations. Instead, you should lead with your knowledge of the strengths you’re able to bring.
But it’s worth reflecting on how you got there, too. Chances are you threw yourself into challenges when you didn’t feel ready – whether that was at school, applying for the role or catching people’s eye at the start of your career.

Confidence tends to appear in the rear-view mirror. Do something repeatedly and there will come a time when you can stop and realise you’re competent at it. But you can’t cheat the reps

5. Track your progress

It’s easier to feel confident if you know where you’re heading, so be clear on what’s expected of you on a project, and what success looks like. You can then track your progress against those targets. Rate how confident you feel to begin with, and monitor this month-by-month – making a note of your successes and wins, and reflecting back on them.

“It’s human nature to focus on what went wrong or things that feel hard,” says Campbell, “but noticing what’s gone well is a healthy habit that can improve self-confidence and build self-trust. If you can establish this habit and keep it up through your career, you can cultivate a healthy outlook that will help you thrive.”

 

You may also be interested in:

• Cover your skills gaps through the APM Learning platform
• Learn more tips and tricks through the podcast
• More confident conversations – plus some verbal self-defence