Do you ever hesitate before speaking up in a meeting, wondering if your ideas are good enough? Or overthink an email after hitting send, replaying every word in your head? If so, you’re in good company. Plenty of smart, capable professionals second-guess themselves at work, and it’s keeping them from stepping into bigger opportunities. The trick isn’t waiting until you magically feel more confident. It’s about building confidence by taking action. When I interviewed Albert Bandura, one of the most respected psychologists of all time, he made it clear that confidence isn’t just something people are born with. It’s something they develop. He spent his career studying self-efficacy, which is just a fancy way of saying that the more you push yourself to try new things, the more you believe in your own abilities. When I visited him at his home, he told stories about how curiosity shaped his life, leading him from a small town in Canada to Stanford University and into groundbreaking research that changed the way we think about motivation and success. He didn’t just accept the limits of his environment; he questioned them. That same mindset applies at work. Too often, people assume they need to have all the answers or be perfectly prepared before speaking up, but those assumptions are what hold them back. If you’re always waiting to feel “ready” before going for a big opportunity, you might be waiting forever. Confidence comes from doing, not overthinking. So, the next time you start second-guessing yourself at work, ask yourself: What would happen if I trusted my instincts instead? You might be surprised by what you’re capable of.
Why Smart People Struggle With Confidence
Many high achievers assume that confidence is something they either have or they do not. But research suggests it does not work that way. Bandura’s work on self-efficacy showed that people build belief in themselves by taking on challenges and seeing progress. In other words, confidence is not a prerequisite for success. It is the result of pushing past doubt and proving to yourself that you can handle new situations.
But here is where many professionals get stuck. They assume that confident people just have a natural ability to speak up, take risks, or ask for what they want. In reality, those who seem the most self-assured have often built that confidence through experience. The more you engage, the more you reinforce the belief that you are capable. On the flip side, the more you hesitate, the more you teach yourself that playing it safe is the better option.
The Problem With Overthinking
Confidence issues at work do not usually come from a lack of knowledge or skill. They come from overthinking. You tell yourself a story about what might happen if you speak up and are wrong. You assume your boss will dismiss your idea or your colleagues will judge you. But how often are those assumptions accurate? Probably less often than you think.
Bandura’s research on self-efficacy emphasized that people who take action in uncertain situations gain confidence faster than those who hold back. The same applies in the workplace. If you second-guess yourself too often, you reinforce the habit of doubting your own judgment. But if you take action, even in small ways, you start to shift the pattern.
How To Build Confidence At Work
If you want to stop second-guessing yourself at work, try these strategies:
- Reframe Failure As Feedback
Bandura’s work highlighted how people learn from their experiences. Instead of viewing mistakes as proof that you are not good enough, see them as opportunities to improve. The most successful people are not the ones who never fail. They are the ones who use failure to get better. - Challenge Assumptions
If you assume your ideas are not worth sharing, ask yourself why. What proof do you have that speaking up will backfire? Often, hesitation is based on fear rather than fact. Testing those fears in small ways—like voicing a thought in a meeting or sharing an idea with a colleague—can show you that your concerns are not always justified. - Take Small Risks Regularly
Bandura’s research showed that confidence grows when people experience small wins. If you hesitate to contribute in meetings, start by making one comment in each discussion. If you avoid networking, challenge yourself to reach out to one new person. Each time you push past doubt, you reinforce the belief that you can handle more. - Borrow Confidence From Others
Sometimes, seeing confidence in action can help you build it in yourself. Pay attention to colleagues who advocate for themselves, speak up, or go after big projects. What can you learn from their approach? - Trust Your Instincts
Bandura built his career on questioning the status quo, and that mindset is just as valuable at work. If you find yourself overthinking, remind yourself that action builds confidence faster than hesitation.
Final Thoughts: Albert Bandura And Curiosity Development
If you want to stop second-guessing yourself at work, start by taking small steps outside your comfort zone. When I interviewed Albert Bandura, he spoke about how curiosity and a willingness to challenge assumptions led him to a career that reshaped psychology. He did not wait to feel ready. He took action, learned along the way, and built confidence by doing. That same approach works in the workplace. You do not need to have everything figured out before you contribute, take on challenges, or pursue bigger goals. Confidence does not come from waiting. It comes from proving to yourself that you are capable.