Are you starting a new role or joining a new service location? If you’re feeling a knot in your stomach, you are certainly not alone. Taking new professional steps where you step into a new, unknown environment forces you out of your comfort zone. So, how can you build confidence?

You won’t know everything and that’s completely okay.

Starting a new role, changing careers or joining a new service location can feel daunting for many people. Approximately 70% of people experience imposter syndrome at some point in their professional lives.

 

What Is Imposter Syndrome?

Imposter syndrome is a psychological pattern where individuals doubt their skills, talent or accomplishments and possess a persistent fear of being exposed as a “fraud.” Even if confronted with achievements and success, individuals experiencing imposter syndrome automatically associate these accomplishments with luck, timing or tricking others into thinking they are more competent than they actually are. This often looks like overworking, perfectionism or hesitating to share ideas.

We don’t all start our professional lives with the same level of confidence.

Being new comes with a superpower that many people don’t notice. As a new worker or someone joining a new environment, you are expected to ask questions. If something doesn’t quite make sense to you, don’t assume the answer and hope that it’s correct, ask questions and uncover hidden assumptions.

As noted in a National Institutes of Health PMC study on self-esteem found that self-esteem steadily rises through childhood and adulthood, peaking between the ages of 60 and 70 before gradually leveling off. Older adults have accumulated a long track record of surviving their mistakes and building their confidence over decades, so if you’re not feeling as confident as you could be right now, give yourself the time and space to build this skill.

 

What Have Others Found Useful?

If you want to accelerate your growth and bridge the gap between self-doubt and professional assurance, consider these strategies used by successful professionals:

• Acting confident can actually trigger internal confidence. Psychologists refer to this as self-perception theory. When we observe ourselves behaving confidently, our brains adjust our self-image to match our actions.
• Keep a “wins book” or a daily log of small achievements. If your confidence dips, reviewing a list of problems solved or skills learned provides objective proof of your competence that overrides emotional self-doubt.
• Look at others for guidance but avoid any toxic comparisons with peers. Remember that comparing your day 1 to someone else’s 5-year experience can very quickly create burnout. Always ask questions early if you’re unsure.

 

The 5 C’s of Workplace Confidence

Look at your professional development through the lens of the 5 C’s:

1. Clarity: Know what is expected of you. Don’t guess if you’re unsure, schedule a quick chat with your manager to establish clear boundaries.
2. Courage: Step up to speak early, share ideas and voice when you are stuck. Courage isn’t that absence of fear; it’s taking action despite it.
3. Consistency: Small, daily actions compound. Showing up, reviewing guidance material and completing small tasks reliably builds trust with your team.
4. Competence: Embrace training, lean into continuous learning and treat every mistake as a feedback loop rather than a failure.
5. Celebration: Acknowledge your progress. Take time to celebrate your wins.

The next time self-doubt creeps in, remember that feeling like an outsider is often just a natural step towards a bigger version of your career.

What is the biggest hurdle you are facing in your new role right now? If you’re unsure about a placement or have any other questions, don’t hesitate to get in contact with us on 0800 368 9644 or email [email protected]

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