Do you want to build confidence? Surround yourself with a great team and witness the difference!
Who would’ve thought that the quiet, shy, Darci that first entered the working world would be in the position she’s in today? Working with a team can do amazing things for your confidence, and I’m here to share my experience!
Introduction – Into the working world
I first started out working at 14, doing a couple hours a week as a wash up in my aunt’s local pub. I remember, I was painfully shy and avoided talking to anyone if I could. But that didn’t stop them trying to make an effort with me…
The fact that they didn’t stop making an effort with me encouraged me to speak up more. The last thing I would want is to come across as rude! Sometimes it’s better to be thrown into the situation, because then you have to do something about it. If I was left to my own accord, who knows if I ever would’ve spoken up.
Working in the pub and progressing within the different roles available meant I was always facing something new. I had no choice but to put myself out there.
For example, it was fine hiding in the kitchen for 2 years, but I didn’t want to be stuck washing up any longer. It was a great first job when I was 14, but definitely not what I wanted to be doing anymore. But the next time you’re eating out, do give credit to the wash up. No one likes working through your dirty dishes – but someone has to do it!
Just not me. Not anymore!
Giving up washing up meant that I had to show my face out front, and actually converse with the customers. For a while, it was manageable and even enjoyable chatting to the sweet old couples and families going out for lunch. Sure, you might get the occasional unhappy customer, but it’s all a learning curve. Plus, I could easily direct them towards my manager and not have to worry about it!
But when you turn 18 and are put on the bar, it’s the boisterous regulars that you have to put up with. That’s a real game changer for the shy, quiet ones out there.
Taking inspiration from the people I worked with, I soon learnt how to put up with drunken customers. I even learnt how to give it back when they were on top form at winding up. So how could I bring those new-found skills, to a job that would be vastly different than dealing with pub regulars?
Navigating a new job
Starting a new job over at Tide 55, with new people, sent me back to my shy ways. I didn’t completely revert to an introverted, quiet 14 year old, but I could certainly see the difference. I’m sure others around me could recognise a change too.
However, slowly but surely I could feel myself becoming more comfortable. Although at work you should maintain a sense of professionalism, there’s no harm in having fun and getting to know your coworkers better!
An important reminder is that these people don’t know you, so why not reinvent yourself? You don’t have to be the shy individual that everyone else may see you as. These people have never known any different about you. With that mindset in place, it’s very easy to adapt to being more outgoing. When you get out of your head and get into the real world, being confident doesn’t seem so hard anymore.
With a new mindset in place, a new job also means trying out new tasks, new roles, new skills. Whether you realise it or not, all of these can have a positive effect. You’ll start to see yourself adapt, learn your strengths and provide a real value to your team.
Team building
This is where you start to see yourself become a real asset! Personally, I never thought I’d see myself become a real help to a team. Yet it happened and I’m here to tell the tale.
I always dreaded teamwork in school, usually ending up contributing the most in order to avoid discussing what we had to do in the first place. I knew I couldn’t bring this same immature mindset to a “real life” job. But I would be lying if I said I wasn’t anxious when working with new people on certain projects.
But the difference soon became clear to me. When you have a great team to work with, it becomes so much easier to navigate and share your insights.
When you have a great team supporting you, you start to see your own value and in turn become more confident in your own abilities. You quickly learn exactly what you’re good at, and the niche ways to assist your team. You’ve been hired for a reason, and picked for your specific skill set. Have the confidence in yourself to become the authority on those!
In those instances where there’s something you may not be so good at, a great team is also one that supports you in your own development. Helping each other, sharing a workload, directing you towards helpful materials to improve your own learning, sharing their own learnt experiences and tips – these are all ways in which a team supports one another.
Stepping outside your comfort zone
Although this can be the most challenging part, it can also be the most rewarding. The last thing that a great team will help you to achieve is to completely step outside the comfort zone.
Since working at my job, there are many things I’ve had to do that I haven’t initially been the biggest fan of. But stepping outside the comfort zone is how you improve, and I can’t honestly think of a time where I’ve done something and regretted it afterwards. Sometimes all you need is that push!
Starring in TikTok videos, attending face-to-face client meetings, even branching out into a new area of my role – although I was initially hesitant to participate in these, I have enjoyed and even benefitted from all of them. Creating great work that helps a client is hugely beneficial from a worker’s perspective, but on a personal level, the small wins are often the most important.
Although there’s no telling that you’re going to become this newly transformed extrovert, but working with a great team has some truly helpful benefits.
How have you benefitted from your work environment?
