How to change your self-talk and increase your confidence levels in the workplace

Growing self-confidence is crucial for you to thrive and grow in your career. I genuinely believe that your confidence comes from knowing your skills and attributes and understanding your value to any team. It also comes from knowing that you can learn new things as you meet new challenges on the ward or in the office or community where you work.

 Many things can impact your confidence and how you show up in the workplace. Your SELF-TALK is one of them. It may even cost you opportunities.  The link between Self -talk and performance is a well researched area in sport professionals performance and positive suggestions have been made by researchers.

Your self-talk can be empowering or debilitating and may cause you to flounder where otherwise you could be thriving and excelling in your work and your health care projects. Today I will share how to take control of your inner critic to become a better friend to yourself.

Do these three things to manage your Self-Talk and show up as the confident nurse professional that you are:

• Increase your awareness. Becoming more familiar with your self-talk is the first step to transforming it. Many of the messages that you send to yourself are automatic that they can escape unnoticed. Journaling may help you to pay more attention.

Let me give you an example. When I got a promotional role, my self-talk was not the best as it could be. My inner critique was working overtime! I quickly realised that I was suffering from imposter syndrome and decided to do something about it and take back control. I intentionally raised my awareness of the consistent thoughts that showed up and started to write them down. I found two critical self-talk statements that were persistent and when they showed up. 

 In essence, I was able to self-manage and reframed those thoughts as they were unfounded statements and had no bearing on how I was showing up in the workplace. I became familiar with my talk and managed my imposter syndrome symptoms.

• Plan ahead. Create alternative statements for the patterns you want to change. Make a list of positive affirmations to replace your old put-downs.

Let’s go back to my example. When I realised my most persistent negative thoughts, I created positive, self-affirming statements that reminded me of my strengths and value to my team, organisation, and stakeholders. Had I not taken active steps to do this, I may have suffered longer with imposter syndrome. The key is recognising and planning.

• Depersonalise situations. Blaming yourself for things that are beyond your control is counterproductive? There are multiple causes to the events happening around you. Distinguish between taking responsibility for your actions and beating yourself up.

 I also learned that you could not be a hero as a professional and leader and blame yourself for things beyond your control. 

Are you dying to know what happened to my imposter syndrome? Well, I was able to get it under control. I was able to manage my inner critic by following these three strategies:

1. ·      Becoming more familiar with my self-talk

2. ·      Using my Positive Self Affirming statements

3. ·      Depersonalising situations, taking responsibility for my part in all the actions and not beating myself up.

I know that this is easier said than done, but you can enjoy a happier and more meaningful professional life by transforming your self-talk. Your self-talk can be a powerful tool for reducing stress and helping you to reach your goals. Ensure that it’s lifting you and guiding you toward your professional success.

I have a great workbook to help you manage your self-talk that covers ten new skills you can use to manage your inner critique and grow your confidence quickly so you can thrive. Join the membership for limitless nurses here. 

Use the guide and master these important skills.

I can’t wait to hear how you have transformed your inner critic into your trusted cheerleader!

 I almost forgot, I have also done the work for you and created 50 positive self-affirming statement cards for healthcare professionals who want to take control of their self-talk and thrive! Get them in the membership here.

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 Bibliography:

1. Theodorakis, Y., Hatzigeorgiadis, A., & Zourbanos, N. (2012). Cognitions: Self-talk and performance. In S. M. Murphy (Ed.), The Oxford handbook of sport and performance psychology (pp. 191–212). Oxford University Press.

2. Hatzigeorgiadis, A., Zourbanos, N., Mpoumpaki, S. and Theodorakis, Y., 2009. Mechanisms underlying the self-talk–performance relationship: The effects of motivational self-talk on self-confidence and anxiety. Psychology of Sport and exercise, 10(1), pp.186-192.

3. Papaioannou, A., Theodorakis, Y., Ballon, F. and Auwelle, Y.V., 2004. Combined effect of goal setting and self-talk in performance of a soccer-shooting task. Perceptual and Motor Skills, 98(1), pp.89-99.

Beaulah Chizimba is a registered nurse, senior nurse leader, leadership and career development coach speaker and trainer, passionate about transformational and inclusive leadership and writes about how health and care professionals can raise self-awareness, grow leadership skills, thrive and excel at work.