Communication experts have emphasized that self-confidence significantly influences career progression and overall quality of life. They noted that building self-confidence is as vital as making deliberate efforts to grow and set career goals.
Confidence as a Key to Professional Growth
Morenikeji Olonilua, also known as Renny Mo, founder of 'The Confidence Lab', stated that professional and personal growth, especially for women, depends heavily on how they communicate their potential rather than just academic or technical knowledge. Speaking at the maiden edition of the lab in Abuja, Olonilua, a development communication professional and broadcaster, pointed out that a major gap limiting women in corporate and social spaces is the inability to confidently project their value when given the opportunity.
Overcoming Self-Doubt
She explained that her experience as a corporate compere revealed a recurring trend where highly capable women deliberately retreat from the spotlight due to self-doubt. 'Employers are not just looking for somebody who is knowledgeable; they want somebody who, when we send this person out, can represent us,' she said. 'It's not just about what you have, it's about how you dish what you have. Confidence is like a cap on a bottle; what you have inside will only come out when you allow it to come out.'
Confidence as a Daily Practice
The communications coach dismissed the notion that self-confidence is a fixed destination, describing it instead as a continuous daily practice that cuts across all socio-economic strata, from corporate executives to market traders. Reflecting on her grassroots interventions, Olonilua highlighted her work with the 'GLW' community, an initiative that addresses period poverty in underserved communities by bridging the information gap between privileged and underprivileged women through radio advocacy.
She noted that whether in motherhood or enterprise, confidence remains an indispensable tool for execution. 'If you're a woman and you're fulfilling an assignment, motherhood. If it's business in the marketplace, if you're selling pepper, sell your pepper with confidence,' she added. She further urged corporate organizations and mentors to intentionally guide young female professionals against habits like over-apologizing, which she said undermine their authority in the workplace.
Internal Awareness for Self-Assurance
Olonilua maintained that the core objective of the initiative is to trigger an internal awareness that helps women make conscious, progressive efforts towards self-assurance. In a presentation on self-presentation and command of presence, Patience Adaka, a professional photographer, explained that confidence can be seen by the way an individual carries themselves and that it serves in attention-arresting and commanding presence.
According to her, 'As a photographer, I am attracted to your presence; the way you carry yourself will determine if my camera can focus on you and tell the story of the moment. Presence is felt before it is explained; confidence is seen before it is heard.' In terms of composition and negative space, the eyes tell everything. People often meet your brand before they meet you.
Building a Personal Brand Online
Speaking on the importance of building a personal brand using social media to make one's presence and confidence felt, Social Media Consultant, Manager, and Digital Strategist Precious Tega pointed out that professional growth is inherently evolutionary. She explained that a personal brand must scale alongside an individual's changing business interests to maximize market reach.
'Your personal brand should show everything that is about you. Don't try to make yourself look small or say you're in a niche so much that people can easily limit your customer base. If you do more than one thing, do it. Don't let anybody stop you from doing what you wanted,' she emphasized. She stressed that multifaceted positioning has become a distinct economic advantage in the digital space.
Overcoming Psychological Barriers
The experts further identified psychological barriers, including imposter syndrome, perfectionism, and the fear of visibility, as major bottlenecks preventing young entrepreneurs from showcasing their value online and building their confidence. Addressing security and privacy concerns raised by professionals working in high-risk sectors, such as investigative journalism, the strategists advised that individuals do not need to compromise their personal lives to build a strong professional presence.
'You can get professional headshots and write solid, generic captions on industry best practices without going into details,' Tega explained.
