Entering the corporate world can be daunting, especially for recent graduates or individuals changing careers. In such environments, self-doubt can creep in easily, hindering your confidence and potentially holding individuals back from reaching their full potential. In my first corporate job, I worried so much that I wouldn’t cut it in sales and I doubted my abilities, even though I was in the door and achieved my goal working for the NBA. As an athlete, some of these feelings might be normal, especially when you’re giving all of your effort and attention to school and sports. It can be challenging to start a whole new routine from scratch.
If you’ve experienced this, it’s so important to recognize common phrases of self-doubt that you might say out loud and learn alternative, more confident responses. By doing this early, you’ll give yourself a huge boost of confidence and set an expectation of what others can expect from you. Below are ten phrases of self-doubt often heard in the corporate world, along with helpful alternatives any former athlete or individual changing careers can use when establishing themselves in a new environment.
10 Confidence-Boosting Phrases to Use at Work
“I’m not sure if I can do this.” In all honestly, we never know if we’ll hit the game winning shot, score perfectly on an exam, ace an interview, etc. But if you doubt yourself, it’s more likely you’ll hinder your ability to achieve the thing. Instead, try this phrase: “I may be new to this, but I’m eager to learn and confident in my abilities to tackle challenges.”
“I’m afraid of making a mistake.” Mistakes happen, and sometimes they can be great things for your career long term. I’ve made countless mistakes throughout my career, but I’ve been able to learn from them and take those experiences into future jobs. Instead of saying this, try something along the lines of: “mistakes are opportunities for growth. I will approach challenges with resilience and learn from any errors along the way.”
“I don’t have enough experience for this role.” I’ve felt this way so many times because in many cases, I didn’t have enough experience to match every bullet point on a job posting. The truth is, you don’t need every bullet point of experience to qualify for or go for a role. Instead of talking yourself out of an opportunity, consider saying “while I may be new to this field, my diverse skill set and fresh perspective can bring value to the team.”
“What if my ideas aren’t good enough?” If you’ve worked for a decade or so, you’ll find that a lot of your peers can’t, or don’t care to problem solve or bring fresh ideas to the table. If you have a passion for the work, the ideas will follow. Instead of doubting your abilities, an alternative phrase can be “my unique insights and creativity have the potential to spark innovation. I will confidently share my ideas and contribute to positive outcomes.”
“I don’t deserve to be here.” As my mom used to say… ‘that’s a bold face lie!’. If you’ve prepared yourself, put in the work, and have taken calculated risks to earn a position at any company, then you deserve to be there. Just because you don’t feel confident every second of the day doesn’t mean you don’t have the right to be where you are. This is a better phrase to use, even if you’re not feeling super secure in your role yet: “I have worked hard to reach this point and earned my place in this environment. I belong here, and I will make the most of this opportunity.”
“I’m not as talented as my colleagues.” Even if you don’t have a certain skill or bunch of skillsets mastered, you still have many talents that you can bring to your team. As athletes, we’re able to adapt and work hard to master certain traits. Remember this when you’re learning something new or trying to figure something out on the job. Try this phrase: “every individual brings their own strengths to the table. I’ll focus on developing my skills and celebrating my unique abilities.”
“I feel like an imposter.” Don’t use this phrase… ever! You deserve the success you’ve earned, so don’t let self-doubt get to you or contribute to your anxiety. Instead, consider saying: “I may experience moments of doubt, but I recognize my accomplishments and know that I am capable of success in this role.”
“I’ll never be able to compete with more experienced candidates.” If you’re feeling unsure about your abilities, focus on the skills you have ‘on lock’. There will always be somebody out there who is more experienced or more talented at certain tasks than you are, especially when you’re just starting out. An alternative phrase might be “while experience is valuable, my enthusiasm, determination, and willingness to learn set me apart. I will leverage these qualities to excel in my role.”
“I’m not good at networking or promoting myself.” I feel that networking is a skill that I need to improve, but instead of focusing on the negative, I change the narrative and might say something like: “I’ll proactively seek opportunities to connect with others and showcase my skills and achievements. I am confident in my ability to build meaningful professional relationships.”
“I’m not sure if I belong in this industry.” If you don’t believe that you can succeed, then you’re probably right. As a professional , so much of my success I attribute to my mentality and willingness to fight through mental roadblocks. Whenever I feel the slightest bit of self-doubt, I might repeat a phrase like “I’m passionate about [industry/field] and committed to making a meaningful impact. I belong in this industry, and I will continue to learn and grow within it.”
By replacing self-doubt with these confidence-boosting alternatives, any athlete, especially recent graduates and or those looking to make a career shift can cultivate a positive mindset and approach their professional journey with self-assurance and determination. Remember, confidence is a skill that can be developed over time, and with persistence and self-belief, success is within reach.