Where does confidence come from? Three ways to know your worth
Confidence Series- Knowing your worth, Uncategorized | March 2, 2021
If you’re reading this, chances are that at one point in the last year (or maybe longer), you’ve struggled with understanding your self-worth. It’s okay. Us, too.
Imposter syndrome doesn’t let many go unscathed. Which is why the Calgary Lean In Network decided we were going to host a three-part Confidence Series, kicking off with Confidence Coach, Jackie Rafter, President and CEO of Higher Landing—who works with professionals, executives, and athletes to help manage and propel their careers.
Jackie walked us through her framework on how we can understand our value and leverage our self-awareness to get the jobs we love, salaries we deserve, and create work that we’re proud of—beyond the screens of our laptops.
- Discover your value
Think about your favourite colleague, your best friend, or your mentor. When you think about what makes them stand out, yes—hard skills, like the technical stuff, stand out—but the shining pillars of comparison are almost always their interpersonal skills, like how they engage a room or that they’re a really good listener.
Discovering your value starts by looking at what makes you stand out.
Make a list and write down what you’re known for, what people ask you for help with, and the things you know you’re good at. Whether it be in personal or professional life, knowing what makes you shine outside of your LinkedIn title can help you bring awareness to what makes you “you”.
- Design how you show up
More often than not, Jackie explains, we tie our identity to external factors like job titles, which is why when many people retire, lose their jobs, or change their roles, they can feel an identity crisis brewing. Knowing the value you bring beyond your resume can help you discover your greater purpose and bring it to life.
Jackie uses the acronym “IP” when she refers to designing the “how” you show up confidently. And it’s not the techy term you think. Jackie’s definition is about knowing what’s “important” and the “pain points”.
Remembering this acronym can help cultivate confidence by understanding what’s important in the situation and the role you play in problems that need solving. Life’s not just black and white anymore. You can’t just show the employer your MBA and you’re hired on the spot. Organizations factor how you fit into company culture and, among all things, if you fit the gap they need to fill. It basically boils down to doing your homework and being thoughtful about it.
- Determine your delivery
You know what makes you special, you know what the gap is you can fill, but how do you share it with others?
It’s no secret that building your brand as an expert can help you land the gig, role, or project. But Jackie reveals that this step is supposed to be a slow burn.
It’s those interpersonal moments that connect us as humans. Taking the time to treat employers and organizations as humans removes the transactional component of the relationship and helps both parties better understand each other on a personal level.
This conversational approach to owning your weirdness (as Jackie calls it) cultivates a connection from your head to your heart, which leads to more authentic relationships and greater confidence when it comes to putting your best self forward.
Still looking for resources on how to curb your inner imposter and cultivate confidence? Here are some resources we love:
Watch for Lean In Calgary’s next event in the Confidence Series where we will talk about leading with confidence in the workplace, which is coming up on April 7, 2021.
Sincerely,
Your volunteer team at Lean In Calgary
(Credit: blog thumbnail photo by Matheus Bertelli from Pexels
