When employees lack self-confidence, it can be hard to get them to perform at their best. So how can you help them excel at their job? What kind of coaching should you provide? What’s the best way to boost their self-esteem? And how do you deal with your own frustration around their insecure behavior?
When employees lack self-confidence or always seem to feel inferior, it can be hard to get them to perform at their best. A bit of handholding may be necessary. At the outset, give your insecure worker projects with well-defined deliverables. Make sure they understand the specifications, the resources available, and the timeline of each task. As time progresses, explain that you expect them to work more independently and to make decisions on their own. Find ways to boost their shaky self-esteem. Create opportunities for success and then offer clear feedback on what enabled that success. Specific and detailed praise, when given in an authentic way, is a big confidence boost. It’s often beneficial to pair your insecure employee with a peer who has complementary skills, or assign them to be a mentor to another junior team member. By asking your subordinate to coach someone else, it reinforces the value they see in themselves.