If you want to be successful in IT, there are plenty of hard, technical skills that you must master. However, it’s the people who layer the right soft skills and resume-builders on top of the hard skills who are typically the most successful, as it breeds a certain level of confidence.
1. Invest in Continuous Learning and Upskilling
As an IT professional, you know technology is always evolving. What you learned last year might already be outdated. So, how do you stay confident in such a fast-paced world? The answer is to keep learning.
Enroll in online courses, attend workshops, and read the latest in tech news. You should dedicate time every day to reading, watching, and listening. And then, at least once per quarter, you should be investing in something like an extended conference.
The more you know, the more confident you'll feel. Plus, when you learn new things, you're not just boosting your confidence – you’re also making your resume just a little shinier. Remember, every new skill is like a new tool in your toolbox. More tools mean more opportunities.
2. Know Your Weaknesses (and Fight Back)
Sometimes, what holds us back isn’t a lack of skills but our own doubts. If you ever feel like you're not good enough, you’re in the majority. That's totally normal, but you can’t let these thoughts take hold.
Identify where you feel insecure. Is it public speaking? Working in teams? Once you know your weak spots, you can work on them. Practice public speaking in a safe environment, or read books about teamwork and leadership. Overcoming these personal hurdles can give your confidence a big boost.
Once you layer confidence on top of your underlying tech skills, everything changes for the better. You’re able to make decisions with certainty, and the people around you will naturally start to trust you. This is how you climb the ladder in your organization and industry.
3. Address Your Own Confidence Killers
We all have our own confidence killers. These are things that we personally struggle with that deplete us of our confidence in certain situations. In most cases, these are silly things that other people don’t care about.
However, no matter how irrational it is, we talk ourselves into believing these things hold us back from being who we want to be. Sometimes confidence killers are physical, like losing your hair or having a large, visible birthmark. Other times, they’re emotional wounds, like having low-self-esteem because you were bullied as a child.
Whatever your confidence killers are, you need to proactively deal with them. If it’s hair loss, for example, find a solution that allows you to re-grow your hair. If you’re struggling with low self-esteem from something that happened in the past, find a therapist who can equip you with tools to push these thoughts away and feel confident in who you are.
4. Seek Out Mentorship and Commit to Networking
You’re not alone on this journey. Anyone who is “above” you in the industry has walked this path before you. So why would you try to do this on your own?
Find a mentor who can guide you. This person can be someone in your company or someone you admire in the IT field. The only thing that matters is that they’re a few steps ahead of you in their career, which allows them to give you insights and feedback.
A good mentor can offer valuable advice, help you navigate challenges, and introduce you to important contacts. There’s a certain level of confidence that comes from having someone like this who you can call with questions or concerns at any time.
It’s also wise to attend IT conferences and networking events. This allows you to expand your network beyond the people you already know. Meeting other professionals at networking events can open doors to new opportunities and insights. (As an added little bonus, it also gives you perspective by helping you realize that everyone has their own set of challenges.)
5. Showcase Your Expertise
Remember that project you worked on that was a big hit? Or the coding problem you solved that no one else could? These are your success stories, and they’re important. Just because you didn’t get an award or have a news story written about you doesn’t mean these aren’t important pieces to your career puzzle. Do your best to humbly share these accomplishments in meetings, add them to your resume, and talk about them in networking events.
Depending on your personality, you probably aren’t going to feel totally comfortable touting your accomplishments and accolades every time you enter a new room. (And you probably shouldn’t do this anyway.) But there are little ways to discreetly plug and promote yourself. For example, if you’re in a meeting and someone brings up a problem that you’ve successfully dealt with in the past, tell the story of how you approached it and ask if they’d like you to step in and help. The more you do this, the more it internally reinforces that you are skilled at what you do.
When you see what you’ve achieved, your confidence will naturally grow. It’s not bragging; it’s showcasing your skills and contributions.
6. Embracing Challenges and Problem-Solving
In IT, problems are a given. Systems crash, codes break, and unexpected bugs pop up. Instead of fearing these situations, see them as opportunities to shine. Each problem you solve makes you stronger and more confident.
Approach challenges with a positive attitude and a problem-solving mindset. Remember, every time you fix something, you’re not just repairing a system; you’re building your confidence.
It’s like a baseball player who strikes out 10 times in a row. If he makes contact with the ball the next time he comes up to the plate, it’s a boost to his confidence. Even if he grounds out, it gives him a little more confidence.
Eventually, this confidence leads to hitting a single or a double. The same is true for you. Challenges and problems will come up, but every time you make a small fix, it breeds confidence. Eventually, this confidence becomes your key to success.
7. Effective Communication
As an IT professional, you might feel more comfortable with computers than with people. But, good communication skills are key to confidence. Learn to express your ideas clearly, both in writing and speaking.
Make a conscious effort to practice explaining technical concepts in simple terms. When you can communicate effectively, people will listen to you, respect your opinions, and see you as a leader. Plus, when you know you’re understood, your confidence will soar.
Adding it All Up
Boosting your confidence as an IT professional isn’t just about mastering the technical stuff. It’s about continuous learning, overcoming personal challenges, seeking guidance, showcasing your achievements, embracing problems, and communicating effectively.
Each step you take to build your confidence not only helps you grow as a professional, but also paves the way for a successful career. Lean into this and make it a strength!
