Let me tell you something nobody puts in a LinkedIn post: some days I walk into the office feeling completely unsure of myself. Big meeting on the calendar, a project I’m still figuring out, a room full of people who seem like they have it way more together than I do and I’m just hoping no one notices.
Here’s what I’ve learned after years in the corporate finance industry: confidence isn’t something you feel first and then show. Most of the time, you show it first- and the feeling follows. That’s the foundation of how to look confident at work, even on the days you feel anything but.
And once I figured that out, work got a lot easier.
So whether you’re new to your job, stepping into a bigger role, or just having one of those weeks where you feel two inches tall (relatable, especially literally— hi, I’m 5’2″), here’s exactly how I pull it together.
1. Dress Like You Belong There- Even on the Days You’re Not Sure You Do
I know, I know- you’ve heard “dress for the job you want.” But hear me out, because this isn’t about wearing a power suit every day. It’s about putting on something that makes you feel like yourself and put-together at the same time.
When I’m dressed well- not overdressed, just intentional- I tend to carry myself differently. I stand up straighter. I make more eye contact. I take up more space in a room. That’s not a coincidence. Check out my most recent post about how ‘lazy doesn’t get promoted’ if you’re climbing the ladder.
A few things that make the biggest difference for me:
- Fit is everything. Nothing tanks confidence faster than a blazer that swallows you or pants that bunch at the ankle. As a petite woman, finding pieces that actually fit off the rack changed everything for me and I do most of my shopping on Amazon and Quince for exactly this reason.
- Wear colors that work for you. I have a core palette of neutrals I always feel good in- navy, camel, cream, black. When I’m having a low-confidence day, I reach for those, not something experimental.
- Skip the outfit you have to fidget with. If you’re pulling at your skirt or adjusting your top every five minutes, you will not be focused on the meeting. Comfort and confidence are more connected than we give them credit for. You want something easy, flattering and put together. For me, that’s a dress or a monochromatic outfit!
2. Fix Your Posture Before You Walk In the Door
This one is free and it works immediately. Before I walk into a meeting room, a one-on-one with my boss, or even just into the office in the morning- I do a quick posture check.
Shoulders back. Chin up. Slow down your walk by about 20%.
That’s it. You will instantly look more confident than 80% of people in the room, even if you feel like you’re faking it. And honestly? Fake it long enough and it stops being faking.
Power posing is a little cringe to talk about, but there’s something to it. If I have two minutes before a big meeting or a hard conversation, I’ll stand up straight, take a few slow breaths, and remind myself that I’ve prepared and I belong in the room. It genuinely helps.
3. Over-Prepare for the Things That Scare You
Confidence at work isn’t just about how you present yourself externally- a lot of it comes from actually knowing your stuff. And the fastest way to feel less confident is to walk into something underprepared. Girl, you have to prepare.
When I have something coming up that makes me nervous- a presentation, a difficult conversation, a new project I’m leading for the first time- I prepare more than I think I need to. I know the numbers cold. I anticipate the hard questions. I write down my main points so I’m not searching for words in the moment.
Over-preparation is the cheat code for confidence that feels real, not performed.
4. Talk Less, Say More
This one took me a while. Early in my career I used to over-explain everything- hedge every statement, add “I think” and “I might be wrong but” to things I actually knew were true. It’s something a lot of women do, and I get it. We’re trying to come across as collaborative, not aggressive.
But here’s the thing: undermining your own words before anyone else can is not humility, it’s noise. It makes you easier to talk over.
Try this: in your next meeting, genuinely, state your point once, clearly. Don’t apologize for it. Don’t over-qualify it. See how it lands. It feels uncomfortable at first and then it starts to feel like your normal.
5. Have a “Confidence Anchor” You Can Come Back To
Mine is a specific pair of heels I’ve had for years. I don’t wear them every day, but when I do, something shifts. You might have a blazer like that, or a lipstick, or a specific outfit combination. It sounds superficial- it is not. It’s a cue your brain has learned to associate with being in your element.
Find yours. Use it intentionally.
6. Stop Waiting to Feel Ready
This might be the most important one on the list. I spent a lot of years waiting to feel confident before I did hard things. Waited to feel ready before speaking up in meetings. Waited to feel sure of myself before asking for a promotion.
Here’s the truth: the feeling of readiness almost never comes before the action. It comes after it.
You do the scary thing first- imperfectly, nervously, whatever- and the confidence builds from having done it. Every time. So the fastest path to feeling confident at work isn’t waiting until you feel it. It’s doing the next thing anyway.
You’re More Capable Than You’re Giving Yourself Credit For
Confidence at work is a skill, not a personality trait. Some people seem like they were born with it, but I promise most of them are figuring it out the same as you- they’ve just had more practice doing things scared.
Start small. Dress intentionally. Prepare thoroughly. Speak clearly. Do the hard thing before you feel ready.
And on the days none of that works? Wear the blazer, grab the coffee, and fake it until the meeting’s over. We’ve all been there.
XO, Whit 🤍
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