Confidence in the Workplace: It's Not What You Think

Confidence in the workplace is often misunderstood. It's not about being the loudest in the room—it's about something much deeper. It's a path through professional challenges that leads to authenticity.

You are navigating professional spaces where boldness is often celebrated above all else. The meetings where the loudest voices dominate, the presentations that dazzle with perfect polish, the colleagues who never seem to question themselves. When I think about confidence in the workplace, I don't think about loud voices or commanding rooms. I think about Sister Geraldine.

She was maybe 4'8" and one of the nuns I worked with when I was 13. It was my first job—scraping bird poop off statues, painting fences, mowing grass—and Sister Geraldine would bring me bananas and water when it got too hot. No big speeches, no flash. But she paid attention. She saw me. And that simple act of kindness did more for my confidence than any pep talk ever could.

This small woman with her quiet presence taught me what true confidence looks like. And it's nothing like what we typically celebrate in professional spaces.

So when we talk about workplace confidence (as we did in our recent podcast episode), let's expand our perspective.

It's not just about being bold. It's about being seen, valued, and safe enough to be who we are—and maybe even fumble a little while we figure that out.

What's Getting in the Way of Workplace Confidence?

Confidence, like a garden, doesn't flourish in harsh conditions. It needs the right environment, care, and patience to grow. I've been in work environments that felt nourishing, where people were curious and kind. I've also been in places where kindness was not on the menu—where performance and productivity ruled the day. And I've noticed that confidence doesn't tend to grow well when we are full of fear.

If you're struggling with confidence at work, consider reflecting on:

Your Environment

• Do I feel like I can show up as myself here?
• What does my body feel like when I walk into work? If I am anxious or fearful, what might my feelings be about? 

Your Relationships

• How do the people around me talk to each other… and to themselves?
• When did I last feel proud of something I did—and who noticed?

Your Self-Perception

• What happens when I make a mistake?
• Am I measuring my worth by someone else's expectations?
• What part of me is asking for more support right now, and can I be brave enough to ask for what I need?

Because confidence is often about belonging, not bravado.

Kindness Is Not Weakness

Let's get rid of the idea that kindness and confidence are opposites. Some of the most confident people I know are deeply kind. And no, not "nice." I'm talking about the kind of grounded, clear, present energy that says: I know who I am, and I've got room for you too.

What would happen if we redefined confidence as the courage to show up with kindness? With curiosity? With humility?

Pretending you've got it all figured out doesn't build connection. But saying, "I'm still learning, and I care"—that just might.

Signs of True Confidence

True confidence in the workplace often looks different than we expect:

• It's the colleague who can say "I don't know" without apology
• It's the leader who listens more than they speak
• It's the team member who asks for help when needed
• It's the person who celebrates others' successes genuinely
• It's someone who can receive feedback without defensiveness

Like tending a garden rather than performing on a stage, authentic confidence grows gradually through small, consistent actions.

Let's Get Curious

I can't talk about confidence without inviting curiosity.

• What does confidence look like for you?
• Whose voice plays in your head when you question yourself?  This can be a tricky one to figure out!
• What would it feel like to trust that you already bring value—before proving anything?
• Where in your life do you already feel grounded and sure of yourself?
• How do you react when someone else shows confidence—do you feel inspired, irritated, intimidated?
• What stories about yourself are ready to be rewritten?

Two-Minute Confidence Practice

Take two minutes right now. Close your eyes, place a hand on your heart, and recall a moment when you felt completely comfortable being yourself at work. What made that possible? How did it feel in your body? Carry this memory with you as a reminder of your inherent capacity for confidence.

Start there.

Because maybe confidence isn't a performance. Maybe it's a practice.

And If You're a Leader…

…or someone with influence in your workplace—what are you doing to cultivate confidence around you?

Not manage it. Not motivate it. Cultivate it.

That might mean slowing down. Listening more. Saying thank you. Owning your own mistakes in front of others. That stuff matters.

Confidence is contagious when it's real.

If Sister Geraldine were here today, I think she'd remind us that confidence grows in the spaces where we feel truly seen. That sometimes the quietest presence can have the most profound impact. That bringing someone water when they're struggling might be the most confident thing you can do.

Start your confidence journey today by showing up as your authentic self. And perhaps, share your own confidence story with someone who might need to hear it.

Take Your Confidence Journey Further

10 Essential Skills to Build Stronger and Healthier Relationships

If you're ready to take the next step in transforming your workplace relationships and confidence, I invite you to explore our course, 10 Essential Skills to Build Stronger and Healthier Relationships.

This course provides a step-by-step guide to help you break free from harmful patterns and cultivate deeper, more authentic connections at work and beyond. Through practical exercises, expert insights, and interactive modules, you'll develop skills that empower you to communicate effectively, establish healthy boundaries, and embrace vulnerability as a source of strength.

Whether you're navigating relationships with colleagues, leadership teams, clients, or even yourself, this course is designed to meet you where you are on your journey. You'll learn to build trust, navigate workplace conflict gracefully, and continuously grow within your professional relationships.

Enroll in the 10 Essential Skills Course Today

—Theresa Hubbard

 

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