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Improve Your Role Confidence & Swagger and Win at Work Like Baseball's 2011 Rookie of the Year:

How confident are you in your job? Are you calm, self-assured and focused? When the pressure's on - do you KNOW that you will succeed and do great work? On a scale 1 to 10, with 10 being 'perfect' - how would you rate yourself at this moment?

If you scored less than a '10' right now, or you know someone else who's 'lost their swagger', do you know the best way to quickly improve?

First, know that not having a perfect role 'confidence and swagger score' is normal! If you're consistently learning, evolving and growing, and opening yourself to personal and professional expansion, you're going to have dips in confidence.

Next, recall that there are so many benefits to having high role 'confidence and swagger'. It helps you perform at your best and makes you more resilient. Also, you're better at managing your time and priorities when it's high. It's KEY to creating wake up days where you're full of energy and motivation. (On the flip side - ongoing low role confidence leads to high stress, scattered thinking and dread-filled days.)

It's important to:

  1. Take note, regularly, of where you are confidence-wise (high or low)
  2. Remember that it's normal for your role confidence to fluctuate
  3. Know that you can take action to smooth out your highs and lows 

What High Role Awareness Looks Like & Why It Matters...

At an Atlanta Braves Baseball game, many years ago, I witnessed high role confidence in action. And when I saw it, I knew what the outcome would be.  I don't know a lot about baseball, but I do know what high role confidence looks like and how much it impacts on performance, through my use of the science in the TriMetrix Assessment, a tool we use when coaching professionals and in assessing candidates for clients.

With that knowledge I found it EASY to predict that the Atlanta Braves would stop their weekend losing streak against the Dodgers. What did I see and how did I know the Braves would win? 

We were sitting close to the field, right behind home plate. I could see the players really well.  When Braves Relief Pitcher Craig Kimbrel walked (swaggered) to the pitcher's mound at the top of the ninth, I KNEW the Braves would win because I could SEE his role confidence.

His calm, "knowing" presence as he walked to the pitcher's mound was obvious to me.  His confidence dominated the Field.  His every move radiated a 'vibe' that sent a message to the Dodgers players, "I'm really good at this, and I am going to strike you out!" And he did! 

I did not know baseball stats or even who each of the players were, but I do know what high role confidence looks like and how it positively impacts performance. And Craig Kimbrel had "IT" that night. He had clear thinking and confident attention; his internal (mental and emotional outlook) and external (physical training) were in harmony, and he had  'oneness' with his job. He knew he belonged there and that he could excel.

THAT is high role confidence. It led to Kimbrel being named the 2011 National League Rookie of the Year, taking all 32 first place votes. He's the first pitcher in the history of the Award to be a unanimous winner. Kimbrel had 127 strikeouts in 2011, the third-most ever for a rookie reliever.

See him in action in this video created by a devoted fan, titled
Craig Kimbrel The Human Rocket:

The Game of Business is Different from Baseball,  But There Are Many Similarities...

While I assume you're not you are not in the game of baseball, you are in the "game" of business.  You have a different playing field, but similar challenges:

  • You have competitors you want to win against.
  • You want your clients to be your fans.
  • You want to bring your "A" game into every meeting, proposal and interaction.

If you focus on how to improve confidence and swagger at work and you become someone who's like Kimbrel, you rate high in each of the following indicator, you're:

  • Internally energized and 'in harmony' with your work. 
  • Proud of what you do and you positively identify with it.
  • Eager, confident and engaged.
  • So confident in your role that you feel comfortable taking decisive action in uncertain situations.
  • Highly resilient. You bounce back quickly from stress and setbacks.
  • A really good manager of your time, priorities and resources, and you're a self-starter.

How Do You Improve Confidence and Swagger at Work?  The First two Steps...

how to improve confidence

I think everyone would like to feel confident about their work, and to have kind of swagger Kimbrel had that night. Building high role confidence takes good old fashion awareness, focus, practice and dedication. 

Here are two steps to consider as you focus on keeping your role confidence high - to get you started:

  • STEP #1:The first 'how to improve your role confidence and swagger' step: ASSESS WHERE YOU ARE

    What is your current level of role awareness and job engagement, today, right now?
    How much confidence and swagger do you really feel? Not the fake bravado and false energy of bragging, but an innate sense of YOU knowing and embracing your place in your world of work as someone who is valuable, good, capable and who BELONGS where you are.

    Rate yourself on a scale of 1 (not true at all) to 5 (totally true) around these statements:
  1. "I love my work."
  2. "I love who I am in my work."
  3. "I like my work it does me good."
  4. "I am fully present in my work. I do good work."

Just being aware of how important it is to feel good about yourself in your work, is a really good start toward assessing your current status. (Note: We can help you measure levels of role confidence in candidates, for yourself and for others on your team with the TriMetrix Assessment.)

  • STEP #2: The second 'how to improve your role confidence and swagger' step: TAKE DECISIVE ACTION TO EXPAND YOUR SKILLS EVERY DAY

    Start
    with making sure that you (and the people who work for you) know what is being measured for success. Make sure that everyone is clear about performance expectations.

    Lack of clarity here is a
    rampant problem in the workforce.  Leaders say and think, "they know what to do" and a high percentage of their employees are saying and thinking, "I don't know what I'm supposed to do..." I see this every day! Use the Performance Dashboard tool to change this!  (Performance Dashboard steps and how-to, here.)

    Next, stay committed to continuous learning and development.  Learn where the specific gaps are in your skill set and experience, and close the gap between where you are and where you want to be. Here's a little workbook I created years ago: How to Build Confidence PDF Workbook - Six Self-Guided Coaching Exercises.

Remember that your current level of role confidence and swagger matters to your success and happiness!  Take action today... 

What's Your Building Confidence and Swagger Success Secret OR Struggle?

What Other WUE Readers Have Shared:

Click below to see contributions from other visitors to this page...

Improve Confidence and Swagger Tips: Plan, Be Responsible and Renew Daily 
My 'swagger' success secret: I find I feel more confident when I'm prepared. I try to plan each day, the night before. Cleaning up my desk and …

Click here to write your own.


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