No matter how smart or skilled your employees are, if they lack confidence, they won’t perform up to their full potential. And they’re going to need your help, guidance, and ongoing support to keep that self-confidence at peak levels.
Confidence and productivity go hand in hand.
How employees see themselves is vital – and it also affects how the rest of their team views them. In any work setting, the more confident an employee is, the more likely they are to succeed.
So, where do you come in? Here are some ideas:
- Put your team first – even before your customer. Sure, the customer is always right – but your employees come first. Unless you create a positive, healthy culture, your clients won’t get good service – and you know how that will turn out.
- Personalize your approach. Get to know your employees as unique individuals. Taking care of their needs can’t happen unless you know what those needs are. There is no cookie-cutter approach. It takes time, ongoing communication, and active listening.
- Treat people with respect. Connect with each team member personally. Listen to their cues about any lack of self-confidence, and then treat them like the high performers you know they can be.
- Encourage employees to teach others. Identify people’s best skills and have them share those strengths with others. If they are hesitant at first, start by having them help another employee one on one, then they can evolve to bigger forums.
- Help them prepare. Most of the time, the “smartest” person in the room is the most prepared. Support your employees with the resources they need and ensure they do their homework in advance of challenging scenarios. It will get easier for them as they move along.
- Coach them to learn from their mistakes. Teach them to “fail forward” and realize that every failure is a step to success. This counteracts those who feel that even the smallest setback affirms their inadequacy.
- Assign mentors. Match an unconfident employee with a more experienced colleague. Make sure mentors are right for the role and give them the time needed for this extra task. Make sure the mentee knows not to simply mimic their mentor, but rather to apply what they learn and make it their own.
- Show your appreciation. Timely feedback and recognition boost confidence and morale. Consistently express your thanks for work being done well. Employees crave this input, and those who feel like they’re making progress tend to be even more confident.
When all is said and done, your success is based on the success of your people. To help optimize both their hard and soft skills, including the ongoing confidence to grow as professionals, and help you grow your business, consider partnering with the talent management experts at PrideStaff Modesto. Read our related posts or contact us today to learn more.
