How To Turn Self-criticism Into Self-confidence In 5 Steps

Professional experience and technical know-how are essential to help professionals advance in their careers, but failure to factor in emotional growth can hinder such progress. Converting self-doubt into self-confidence is a process that doesn’t happen overnight, but it makes individuals feel more empowered to pursue their professional goals.

It is normal to feel insecure when seeking a new job or preparing for a critical job interview. In fact, being able to analyze yourself and identify areas for improvement is necessary for professional growth. However, when self-criticism becomes excessive, professionals may sabotage themselves, impeding their development.

How self-criticism can harm you

As the term suggests, self-criticism is the ability to analyze oneself objectively. Being aware of your strengths and weaknesses is a crucial step in any profession, which is why it is often a common question in selection procedures.

This implies that you must be truthful when assessing yourself and identifying traits that could be improved. The issue arises when, due to Imposter Syndrome or low self-esteem, individuals become excessively self-critical.

This prevents them from focusing on solutions, causing them to ruminate on problems at the cost of self-growth. Here’s how over-criticism can hurt you:

1. It stops you from following your dreams

Whether due to the environment in which you were raised, challenges in the market, or managers who lack people skills, it’s possible to believe that your dream career is unattainable. As a result, you may not even try, missing out on opportunities that could help you advance.

2. It increases procrastination

Procrastination, the productivity killer, can be avoided but not entirely eliminated. It’s normal to want to take a break when something is difficult or tedious. However, when lacking confidence, individuals often avoid improvement, choosing procrastination as a coping mechanism. Afraid of being criticized or evaluated, or even of making decisions, they delay tasks, resulting in late projects and, ultimately, career stagnation.

3. Stagnation

This fear and self-sabotage prevent professionals from seizing opportunities or even applying for positions, believing they won’t stand out. As a result, their careers stall, and the more stagnant they become, the more dissatisfied they are with their work.

How to transform self-criticism into self-confidence

Building self-confidence doesn’t happen overnight, and it’s important to acknowledge that this process will involve both highs and lows. The challenges mentioned earlier might be connected to underlying psychological issues, and seeking guidance from a professional may be beneficial.

That said, here are some strategies you can apply daily to help transform excessive self-criticism into self-confidence and land your desired career:

1. Avoid comparisons

The grass always seems greener on the other side. It’s easy to look at other people’s successes and believe you won’t measure up. However, everyone has their own journey, having faced their own unique challenges to get where they are. Rather than comparing yourself, focus your energy on advancing in your own career.

2. Practice self-compassion

People often form opinions about themselves that they would never apply to a friend. They put excessive pressure on themselves, seeing themselves as failures or incapable. If they heard someone they love say the same things, they would act differently.

Self-love is about creating self-compassion and respecting your own limits. Think about how a friend would talk about you or how you would like to be treated in a professional environment, and apply that same treatment to yourself.

3. Celebrate your achievements

It’s easier to make a list of failures than of successes—not because the failures are more frequent, but because it’s harder to notice the successes. At times, individuals struggle to look back at their past and recognize the lessons they’ve learned. However, this is an exercise that should be practiced.

Start by acknowledging the small wins, like completing a course, reading a book in a foreign language, or receiving a compliment from a client. Write it down if necessary, but make sure to appreciate your achievements.

4. Change your thinking

As mentioned earlier, building confidence takes time and patience. However, when self-criticism becomes excessive, people tend to complain about themselves constantly. Instead of criticizing yourself endlessly, think about what you could have done differently and how to improve moving forward.

5. Keep developing

Increase your technical skills by taking new courses, attending workshops, or pursuing postgraduate studies. This will provide you with more tools to take on new projects and assume leadership roles at work.

Additionally, invest in socio-emotional skills courses to better understand yourself. Identifying your flaws will help improve your performance and transform self-criticism into self-confidence.