Navigating the corporate world can feel like a tightrope walk at times.

You’re striving to make a difference, to leave your mark, but sometimes, you might feel like you’re just not cutting it. It feels like you’re stuck in the same old rut, and your self-worth seems to be dwindling with each passing day.

But here’s the kicker – it doesn’t have to be this way.

You might think that feeling competent and building self-worth at work are just pipe dreams, or that they’re outcomes reserved for the lucky few who’ve cracked the code.

In fact, psychology has some powerful insights on how to build your self-worth and enhance your competence at work. And no, they’re not complicated theories or abstract concepts, but eight simple, practical strategies that you can start implementing today.

In this article, we’re going to discuss these powerful ways to boost your self-worth and competence at work. 

1) Acknowledge your accomplishments

First things first, it’s time to give yourself some credit.

We tend to be our own worst critics, nitpicking over every little mistake, every tiny oversight, while completely ignoring the things we’ve done right. This constant self-criticism can eat away at your self-worth and competence faster than anything else.

Here’s what you need to do: start acknowledging your accomplishments, no matter how small they may seem. Completed a project on time? Good job. Made a client happy? Well done. Solved a tricky problem? Give yourself a pat on the back.

The key here is to not just gloss over these accomplishments, but to actually take a moment to appreciate them. Savor the feeling of having done something right, of having contributed in a positive way.

This isn’t about becoming arrogant or complacent; it’s about recognizing and validating your own worth.

When you start acknowledging your accomplishments, you’ll start seeing yourself as a competent professional who can handle the challenges that come your way.

2) Stop comparing yourself to others

Now, this is a tough one, especially in today’s age of social media where everyone’s highlight reels are on display.

I used to constantly compare myself with my peers. I’d see their promotions, their achievements, their recognition, and I’d feel a sinking feeling in my stomach. It felt like they were racing ahead while I was stuck in the same place.

But here’s what I realized: comparison is a trap. When we compare ourselves with others, we’re usually comparing our behind-the-scenes with their highlight reel. We don’t see their struggles, their doubts, their setbacks – just as they don’t see ours.

So I made a conscious decision to stop comparing myself with others and focus on my own journey instead. I started setting my own goals, measuring my progress against my own benchmarks, and celebrating my own victories.

And you know what? It worked.

I started feeling more confident, more competent. I started seeing myself not as a lesser version of someone else, but as the best version of myself.

3) Embrace the power of positive self-talk

Albert Einstein once said, “The most important decision we make is whether we believe we live in a friendly or hostile universe.”

In a similar vein, the most crucial conversation you’re ever going to have is the one you have with yourself.

Now, this might sound cliché, but hear me out.

How often do you catch yourself saying things like “I can’t do this,” or “I’m not good enough,” or “I’ll never get this right”? These negative self-statements can be incredibly damaging to our self-worth and competence.

But by flipping the script and engaging in positive self-talk, you can counteract these harmful effects.

Instead of telling yourself that you can’t do something, tell yourself that you’ll try your best. Instead of berating yourself for a mistake, remind yourself that it’s an opportunity to learn and grow. Instead of doubting your abilities, affirm your strengths and talents.

4) Practice self-compassion

Did you know that our brains are actually wired to focus more on negative experiences than positive ones? It’s a primitive survival mechanism known as the “negativity bias“.

But just because we’re hardwired that way doesn’t mean we can’t change. And one powerful way to counteract the negativity bias is through practicing self-compassion.

Self-compassion involves treating ourselves with the same kindness and understanding that we would offer to a good friend.

When we make a mistake, instead of beating ourselves up about it, we can acknowledge that it’s a natural part of being human. When we’re struggling, instead of ignoring our pain, we can offer ourselves comfort and care.

By practicing self-compassion, we can start to change the narrative in our heads. We can replace the harsh self-criticism that erodes our self-worth and competence with a gentler, more supportive voice that builds us up instead of tearing us down.

5) Set healthy boundaries

Now that we’ve talked about acknowledging our accomplishments, ceasing comparison, embracing positive self-talk, and practicing self-compassion, there’s an equally important aspect we need to address: setting healthy boundaries.

In the hustle of our work lives, it’s easy to blur the lines between our personal and professional selves. We often end up spreading ourselves too thin trying to be everything to everyone.

But here’s the thing: it’s not just about protecting your time and energy – it’s also about respecting your own worth. When you set boundaries, you’re essentially saying that your needs matter too.

Setting boundaries can be as simple as saying ‘no’ when you’re overloaded with work, or taking regular breaks to recharge, or even leaving work-related stress at the office door when you come home.

6) Seek out opportunities for growth

Having talked about setting boundaries, let’s now shift our focus to seeking opportunities for growth.

Life has a funny way of throwing curveballs at us, often when we least expect it. Work is no exception. New projects, unexpected responsibilities, sudden changes – they can all be daunting.

But instead of seeing these as obstacles, let’s start seeing them as opportunities for growth.

When a challenging task lands on your desk, instead of shying away from it, see it as a chance to learn something new. When you’re asked to take on a role you’re not familiar with, instead of panicking, see it as an opportunity to expand your skills.

The more you push yourself out of your comfort zone, the more competent you’ll become. And with each new challenge you overcome, your self-worth will grow.

7) Cultivate a growth mindset

Building on the idea of seeking growth opportunities, let’s delve a little deeper and talk about cultivating a growth mindset.

A growth mindset, as coined by psychologist Carol Dweck, is the belief that our abilities and intelligence can be developed with time and effort. In other words, it’s about seeing potential in ourselves and understanding that we can improve through dedication and hard work.

When we adopt a growth mindset, we view challenges as opportunities to learn rather than threats to our competence. We see effort as a path to mastery, not as a sign of inadequacy. We’re not afraid of making mistakes because we know that’s how we grow.

Cultivating a growth mindset can significantly boost your self-worth and competence at work. It encourages you to embrace challenges, persist in the face of setbacks, and see effort as worthwhile.

8) Celebrate your uniqueness

After all of this, there’s one final, crucial point I want to touch on: celebrating your uniqueness.

In a world that often seems to value conformity over individuality, it’s easy to lose sight of what makes us unique. We may feel the need to fit in, to blend in, to be just like everyone else.

But the truth is, each one of us is unique. We all have our own strengths, skills, talents, and experiences that set us apart. And it’s this uniqueness that makes us valuable – not just as employees, but as individuals.

So instead of trying to be someone else, let’s celebrate who we are. Let’s embrace our quirks, our passions, our strengths, and even our weaknesses. Because it’s these things that make us who we are.

The final thought

If you’ve found yourself nodding along to these points, chances are you’re ready to embark on this journey of building self-worth and feeling more competent at work.

And here’s something important to remember – this isn’t a one-time fix. It’s a continuous process, a lifelong journey towards becoming the best version of yourself.

Start by acknowledging your accomplishments, no matter how small they may seem. Stop comparing yourself to others and focus on your own journey. 

It might not be easy. There might be days when you stumble, when old habits creep back in. But that’s okay.

As the legendary basketball coach John Wooden once said, “Success is never final, failure is never fatal. It’s courage that counts.”

Here’s to a more fulfilling professional life – one filled with confidence, competence, and above all, self-worth.