An employee who is confident is more likely to succeed. Unsure employees are hesitant in their work, less likely to take risks and often perform at lower levels of success than other employees. As a result, their work performance suffers. This can affect the entire organization. Why should you care about the confidence of your employees? Because your success depends on theirs.
If your employees seem uncertain in their job performance, it may be time to take decisive action toward improving their self-confidence. Here are five easy things you can do to bolster their confidence levels.
Use compliments
Everyone likes to hear, “Good job!” for a job well done. Often, however, it becomes perfunctory and meaningless when everyone hears the standard line. Be sincere in your praise and be specific. Use details about their efforts to demonstrate that you are aware of their individual effort. Gratitude is a powerful thing.
Use a balanced approach to criticism
No employee is perfect. You know they make mistakes; they know they make mistakes. There’s nothing wrong with bringing up weaknesses that need to be corrected. However, it can be a confidence killer when that is the only time you communicate with an employee.
Employees shouldn’t feel a sense of dread about being called to the manager’s office (
this can be avoided if you establish weekly 1:1s). Make sure you are equally forthcoming with praise of their accomplishments as well as constructive criticism.
Encourage development
Employees want professional development. Encouraging them to take advantage of opportunities demonstrates that you are confident in their ability to take on additional responsibilities, and that you are invested in their success. According to a
Gallup poll, employees who felt that someone at work encouraged their development stated that their standard of living had improved as a result.
One of the key indicators of their standard of living? Self-confidence. Employees who feel as though someone is invested in their future are more likely to develop more confidence in their current job.
Be sensitive to times of personal crisis
Employees who lack self-confidence may find their confidence plummet even more during a personal crisis. Added stress may escalate concerns and fears. To prevent additional confidence drain, speak privately to employees who may be going through personal situations. Reassure them of your confidence in their ability and of the company’s support during their crisis.
Offer employee benefits
Benefit packages speak volumes about the company’s
investment in its employees. A quality benefits package can improve employee retention, reduce absenteeism, and influence employee performance. The engagement of employees outside of work hours, such as through a benefits program, can create a positive relationship between employee and employer. This leads to greater sense of fulfillment and loyalty, and in turn, can improve the employee’s sense of confidence.
Employee engagement is one of the most important indicators of a company’s success. Supporting an employee’s confidence in their abilities demonstrates that the company sees value in them, both personally and professionally.
This approach is beneficial in encouraging employees to bring their whole-selves to work and can generate increased employee engagement. Who can you encourage today?
Michele Bailey is president and CEO of
Blazing Agencyand
My Big Idea™. These two lines of business work congruently to support her clients’ success.
