How can you raise your self-esteem in the workplace?

Posted on December 05, 2011 by Pam Thomas, One of Thousands of Entrepreneurship Coaches on Noomii.

Self-esteem is our perception of ourselves and our self worth, including the beliefs we hold regarding ourselves (for example, “I am smart”, “I am talented”, etc). It is how we see ourselves and, sadly, sometimes this gets intermingled with how we see ourselves in relation to others and what we do. In turn we often use what we do for a living to define who we are and our own worth. So when things aren’t going as well at work as we want them to, it is our self-esteem that takes a hit.

Here are some tips to raise your self-esteem in the workplace when it is running a little low:

• Try to avoid worrying about what others are thinking about you (you know, the office gossip). You have absolutely no control over what others think so being held hostage by something out of your control is a sure-fire way to lower your self-esteem. It’s what you think that makes a difference.

• Celebrate the small and medium wins as well as the large. It is all too easy to move from one project to the next without taking the time to acknowledge a job well done. When you complete a task, goal, project, or objective take that time and give yourself a pat on the back before you move on to something new.

• Stay out of the drama! When you work with others there is bound to be drama and some negativity. Avoid it like the plague and don’t get caught up in someone else’s negative situation. Remember, the situation or the person doesn’t make you feel a certain way; it’s your beliefs that cause you to feel. The bottom line: you get to choose how you feel and how you respond to someone or something else…so choose wisely.

• Cop an attitude of gratitude. In the moment when you are feeling your self-esteem drop, name 5 things you are grateful for about you and the work you do. You can say it out loud, you can write it down, or you can say it yourself.

• Invest in yourself and hire a coach. There are many coaches out there that specialize in self-esteem raising. Partnering with someone who can support you, listen to you, explore with you, help you to blow up the limiting beliefs, and collaboratively create strategies with you to raise your self-esteem can make a huge difference.

• Stop comparing yourself to others in the workplace. When you play the comparison game all you are really doing is hiding your own abilities and talents.

• Nip the stinkin’ thinkin’ in the bud. We all make mistakes on the job. We all have bad days, but guess what? When we fall prey to the stinkin thinkin’, it not only impacts our moods but our self-esteem levels as well. Self deprecating comments do nothing good; so any time you catch yourself saying something negative about yourself, stop right then and there and replace that comment with something more positive.

Whatever you choose to raise your self-esteem just know you deserve to feel good about you and the things you do in the workplace and outside the workplace