By Dr Dan Harrison, CEO & Founder Harrison Assessments International
The Key to Influence and Engagement lies in the belief that you have something of value to add.
In our ongoing series about enhancing the value of your opinions in the workplace, let’s talk about a crucial trait: Confidence. Specifically, the confidence in your own opinions, which we at Harrison Assessments refer to as being ‘Certain’..
- The Power of Confidence in Your Opinions
Many people believe confidence is something you are born with as opposed to something developed Confidence is not just about self-assurance; it’s about influencing others and establishing credibility. Here’s why confidence matters:
1. Command Attention: Confidently presented ideas capture and maintain your audience’s attention.
2. Foster Engagement: Speaking with confidence encourages others to share their views, creating a collaborative atmosphere.
3. Decision Making: Confident opinions lead to decisive actions, often crucial in pressing situations.
4. Build Credibility: Consistently expressing well-founded opinions can establish you as a reliable resource in your field.
5. Provide Stability: In challenging times, confident guidance can offer direction and stability to your team.
6. Career Growth: Confidence can open doors to more responsibilities and opportunities.
- Cultivating Confidence in Expressing Opinions
Building confidence is a skill, and here are some strategies to enhance it:
– Pause for Engagement: After sharing your views, pause to allow questions and responses, fostering dialogue.
– Invite and Acknowledge Input: Listen to others, summarize their views, and avoid dismissing contrary opinions.
– Find Common Ground: Acknowledge areas of agreement to build receptivity.
– Be Prepared: Research your topics thoroughly to boost your confidence in discussions.
– Organize Your Thoughts: Clear expression stems from clear thinking.
– Practice Active Listening: This enhances understanding of others’ viewpoints and helps position your opinions effectively.
– Prepare Key Points: Note down your main ideas before meetings for clearer, more confident expression.
– Acknowledge Your Confidence Level: Be honest about your certainty and suggest further exploration if needed.
– Explain Your Confidence: If you’re very confident, share the evidence or logic behind your views.
– Enhance Public Speaking Skills: Organizations like Toastmasters can significantly improve your confidence in expressing opinions.
Confidence in your opinions not only reflects your personal assurance but also amplifies your ability to influence and lead in your professional environment. It’s about balancing confidence with openness and clarity with consideration. You’re going to be on the right path every single time you act out in a way that honors others and treat them the way you would want to be treated.
If we can help you strengthen your voice so that your opinions aren’t only heard, but received well, and responded to, reach out to Empower Edge Solutions for a complimentary DEMO of this core competency report today.
