Commanding Space: 3 Ways to Show up Confidently at Work as a Young Professional

Over the course of my career, I have been so deeply afraid to show up as my authentic self that it literally once landed me in a Starbucks bathroom at 27 years old, heaving tears while my boss sat outside in the cafe waiting for me to get it together.

Granted, he had just publicly bullied me by sadistically telling me amidst bites of his scone that I needed to “own the fact that people at work just don’t like me”. (Not true, by the way. He turned out to be a bad guy to a literal criminal degree, and his company failed three years later.) Still, the moment was horrible and the memory of it remains. 

Forty-three percent of young professionals report experiencing anxiety on the job. That’s honestly not a surprise, but it does mean that building confidence at work for young professionals is a critical success factor for everyone on a team. High levels of anxiety for anyone are a tripwire for burnout, turnover, lowered productivity, workplace conflict, and so much more. 

Young professionals – I’m looking at you, Millennials and Gen Z-ers – face some fierce battles in today’s workforce, and yet, they wield an enormous amount of power. See, Gen X-ers are slated to dominate the C-suite for the next 30 years. BUT if they want to be successful in the long-term, they will have to learn the language and nuances of Millennials and Gen Z-ers. E’rbody gotta work together! No one does it alone.

Building confidence at work for young professionals requires many things, including psychological safety that can only result from shifts in company culture. But these changes don’t always happen quickly or easily, so let’s start with what we CAN control – ourselves. 

Here are 3 communication hacks I suggest for any young professional who struggles with making a bigger impression when they’re feeling insecure:

Building Confidence at Work for Young Professionals in 3 Steps:

1. Be approachable. Lean into the most positive and unifying attributes of your identity, such as the warmth of your culture, the adaptability you’ve cultivated through experience, or the collaborative nature of your particular generation. Then, leverage techniques that generate and showcase confidence and enthusiasm within yourself and others. This might sound or look like:

• Wearing appropriate clothing trends that reflect your personality, inspiring others to do the same.

• Being the welcome crew everywhere you go. That might mean showing up early to meetings, grabbing a power seat, and greeting everyone who enters. You will be seen that day. 

• Asking about others' interests until you find common ground with their answers. 

2. Use Curiosity Cues. These are sentences or questions that are brief, humble, and generous in giving others the opportunity to speak, while showcasing our intelligence and willingness to learn. These are especially powerful when we want to be heard, but we don’t want to take center stage. Here are some examples: 

“The answer to this may be obvious, but I – and maybe others – would benefit from your insight on ______." 

• “Fatima, is _________ a good example of what you were saying?”

• "From our team's perspective, I'll offer this in case it's helpful to others:_____________."

• "Can you help me understand whether I'm on the right track with thinking _____________?"

​3. Follow Up. Remember that meetings provide accessibility, even after everyone has left the table. Send an email to someone who made a poignant remark or shared some really helpful information in the meeting. Thank them for clarifying, inspiring, informing, or defending an idea. This might sounds like:

• "Hey Sarah, thanks for describing your process today. It was really helpful in understanding more about how your team does X. I'm a fan of what you all do."

• "Lecia  - I'm sending you a virtual high five for speaking up about the challenges your team is facing. It's powerful to hear, and serves as a great reminder that everyone is working to our fullest potential here. Bravo!"

• "Bryan - your story today was powerful. Thank you for sharing it. It really impressed upon me the importance of the work that we all do here." ​

Building confidence at work for young professionals is really a team effort. But every bus has a driver, so beep, beep, my young friends. Stay confident knowing that even though people don't always say so, they see you. And as Lady Gaga says, “People will always talk, so let’s give them something to talk about.”