[This article is a recap of the 2nd episode of our Podcast about the lives of Doctolibers, called In good company. Listen to the full episode here!]

Confidence plays an important role in succeeding in your career. But there is usually a bias on what confidence means in the workplace: boldness, assertiveness… It can sometimes prevent some from expressing themselves, or finding their own way of being confident. In this article, Sophie Greiner, Head of Brand and Comms at Doctolib, explores how there are many models to develop your own confidence – and provides advice on how to shine in the workplace!

The many ways to be confident

“To me, confidence is not a given. It’s not something you are born with, or a quality you have. It’s something you learn to grow. I like to see it not as a state, but a flow – and it can vary from day to day.

You need to understand what helps build it up, or what can negatively affect it. There are a couple of factors that can impact confidence : yourself, your experiences, your personal history, your education, your limited beliefs. It’s important to take a step back and look at those things, to assess their impact. Other people’s gaze is also important – it can lift you up, offer support, but also rejection. You have to learn how to deal with that, while recognizing you don’t have control over them.”

Owning doubt to be more confident

“To me, doubt is not the antithesis of confidence. Doubt can help you navigate the fine line between being your true self, and overconfidence. There is not one unique way to be confident, as there is not only one way to be an effective leader. You can be discreet, a complex thinker, and be confident. You don’t need to be super assertive, or loud. This image stems from unconscious bias or the images we associate with confidence. It’s up to each one of us to find our own confidence style.”

My advices to feel more confident in the workplace

Build a sense of pride – celebrate your achievements!
Be aligned. Make decisions that match your values, that are aligned with who you are, even if they are difficult ones.
Learn from failure. Know what you don’t want to do anymore. Learning from your mistakes makes you stronger.
Get a support system. Don’t hesitate to ask for help or advice when needed. This will make you more solid.
Surround yourself with uplifting people. There is a quote I really like ; “surround yourself with people whose eyes light up when you enter a room”. While we can’t always choose the people, we can choose our workplace to feel uplifted!
Get feedback from your trusted peers regularly on positive points and on the aspects you want to grow on.
Choose a safe workplace, where you’ll be encouraged to grow!

To know more about confidence in the workplace, listen to our podcast here!