Whether you believe in new year resolutions or not, the end of a working year and the start of a new can be a refreshing time to consider what you want for yourself professionally.

How do you communicate professionally?

Remember that people will only perceive you based on the way you communicate yourself. Knowing your own strengths is one thing, but if you don’t communicate these strengths to your colleagues, how are they to know?

People in different business sectors or teams will only be able to judge your work and efforts based on your competency. Do you show your competency at work, to your colleagues or managers?

Even showing perception of competency can be enough to highlight to your co-workers the value and effort of your work, convincing them of your competency.

So how do you make people believe in your competence?

Confidence. Show confidence in your work and yourself. Back up your success with figures and examples, be confident of your achievements and share this with your team and managerial staff. Confirmation bias is when you exuberate confidence so that those around you believe it too. Don’t be modest in the workplace, do sell yourself, your opening up your work to shortfalls and criticisms by being doubtful in yourself.

Ways to be more confident?

Consider the language you use to convey yourself. Do you use power speech or language that is overly polite and weakening?

Certain words you use when speaking to your colleagues or even addressing them can instil doubt in them, even if there is no reason for that to be the case.

There are certain words that are best left out of your working vocabulary if you want to be perceived as competent. Don’t apologise if you haven’t got anything to be sorry for, don’t use words such as ‘I think’, if you know, say you know. Be certain in yourself and your capabilities. Use your vocabulary as another means to show your competency.

Finally, good luck and hopefully the new year is prosperous!