You see her talent and potential. She’s not convinced. She has great ideas, but seldom shares. She could be contributing so much more, you know it. But for reasons you don’t understand, she’s not ready. It’s crushing you to see her shying away from possibilities. But building confidence is complicated. You’re not a psychologist and this stuff can get messy.
Yes, building confidence takes time and energy. Trust me, it’s worth it. Turning around confidence will rank high on your personal lifetime leadership achievement awards. No one will call it out, but you’ll know, and so will they. You may find out years later. Building confidence creates long-term impact for the employee, for the team, and for your company.
Game on.
7 Ways to Build Confidence in Your Employee
1. Treat her with deep respect.
She can’t feel like a project. No Henry Higgins stuff here. Have her at “hello” by treating her as the rock star you know she is capable of becoming.
2. Be specific about what’s right
“You’ve got potential” will fall on deaf ears to someone who doesn’t buy it. Be as clear as possible with examples when giving praise. “When you said X, did you see the conversation change? You are making a difference.”
3. Have her teach what she knows best
Find her gifts and have her share. Start one-on-one, then evolve to bigger gigs. Nothing instills confidence more than teaching.
4. Help her prepare
Nothing builds confidence more than being the “smartest” guy in the room. 9 times out of 10, the “smartest” guy in the room, is really the most prepared. Help her do her homework and role play the scenarios she’s most likely to face. The next time, it will be easier.
5. Celebrate incremental improvements
I’m a HUGE believer in Confidence Bursts. Try this and let me know how it goes.
6. Scaffold her achievements
Give her more than she thinks she can do, but don’t leave her hanging. Scaffold her well with mentors and advice, which will help her win, without interference.
7. Encourage through mistakes
If she lacks confidence, even the smallest mistake will affirm her feelings of inadequacy. Help her learn from mistakes, but also reassure her that mistakes are all part of learning. Try your best to not freak out.
Confidence leads to creativity, productivity, excellence, and engagement. Invest deeply. It matters.
See Also: 5 Ways To Build Service Rep Confidence