Podcast #55
How to Build Unshakable Confidence at Work: The 4 Stages of Confidence Explained
Confidence – the Baseline of Career Success
Imagine two professionals with the exact same profile: same skills, same education, and the same drive. One rises quickly, gets the promotion, and is seen as the natural leader, while the other stays invisible despite working just as hard.
What’s the difference? Confidence.
In this episode of the Corporate Warriors Podcast, host Fela Rosa dives deep into why confidence is the game-changer in career growth, why it’s often misunderstood, and how anyone can build it step by step – without faking it.
Confidence Is Not Innate, It’s a Skill
Most people believe confidence is something you’re born with. In reality, it’s just like competence: a skill that can be developed. Confidence grows when you trust yourself, speak up for your worth, and stand tall under pressure. As Fela explains: “It’s not something that you’re born with and it’s definitely not about being flawless. It’s about trusting yourself that you can build yourself up again no matter what happens on the outside.”
The 4 Stages of Confidence
Fela highlights the four stages of competence, which also apply to confidence:
- Unconscious Incompetence – You don’t know what you don’t know.
- Conscious Incompetence – You realize you’re not as skilled as you thought. Confidence drops, but this is where growth begins.
- Conscious Competence – You’re improving, aware of your progress, and slowly rebuilding confidence.
- Unconscious Competence – Skills and confidence become second nature, your “new normal.”
Every new role or challenge puts you through these stages again. Being aware of this cycle helps you grow without losing confidence along the way.
Practical Ways to Build Confidence
Confidence doesn’t grow overnight, it’s built through consistent habits and awareness. Here are the tools Fela recommends:
- Keep a Success Journal.
“Where focus goes, energy flows. When you focus on your successes and on your growth, your momentum builds bigger.”
Journaling your wins helps maintain momentum, especially on tough days. It also acts as documentation in workplaces where credit might be taken from you. - Surround Yourself with the Right People.
Confidence is contagious. Spending time around people who believe in themselves helps you model their behaviors. Conversely, constantly hearing others doubt themselves can chip away at your own confidence.
Practice Grounding.
Meditation, yoga, walking in nature, or even going barefoot on the beach can help you stay centered. “Grounding means you get back on your feet and create clarity for yourself. This clarity makes it harder for others to manipulate your vision of yourself.”
She encourages high performers to stop proving their worth and start growing from a place of power, not insecurity.
Reflect on Your Confidence Level
To make confidence-building actionable, Fela offers two reflection prompts:
- Where are you in the competence cycle?
For your key skills, are you unconsciously incompetent, consciously incompetent, consciously competent, or unconsciously competent? Talk to trusted peers for constructive feedback to gain awareness.
When did you lose confidence, and how did you bounce back?
Think about a time when you lacked confidence. What tools helped you recover? Recognizing what works best for you allows you to double down on strategies with maximum impact.
Why Confidence is a Strategic Asset
For high performers, especially those in toxic workplaces, confidence is not just nice to have. It’s a strategic asset.
“Your confidence is a strategic asset. Protect it like your career depends on it, because it really does.”
Strong confidence changes how you show up in interviews, how you navigate workplace politics, and how you communicate your value. It ensures your work gets recognized because you can confidently speak about it.
Final Thought:
Confidence isn’t about pretending or faking it, it’s about doing the work, trusting yourself, and building it step by step. Nobody is born confident. It’s learned, practiced, and earned.
Disclaimer: This article and the linked podcast episode are for educational and informational purposes only and reflect general career coaching perspectives. Fela Rosa is a certified coach, not a licensed therapist, doctor, lawyer or financial advisor. Nothing here is legal, HR, medical, financial or mental health advice. If you’re going through a hard time with your mental or physical health, please reach out to a licensed healthcare professional. If you believe you’re experiencing discrimination, harassment, retaliation or other unlawful conduct, seek advice from a qualified professional. Read our full Disclaimer.
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