Help an Employee Build Confidence ( with low self esteem )

Help an Employee Build Confidence

Employees who lack confidence can be hard to coach, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t try.

 Helping a talented employee shed his insecurities sets him up to achieve what he’s capable of.

 But it won’t help to call out his low self-esteem or to simply pay him compliments.

 Instead, you have to help him own a compliment. Instead of giving broad praise like, “You’re really good at your job,” focus on something SPECIFIC he has done well. Then help him to see his strengths. 

Ask: “What does that compliment mean to you? Why do you think I’m choosing to give it to you?” 

You can also help someone own a compliment given by someone else.

 For example, you might say, “I heard John tell you that you did a good job with the quarterly report. Why do you think he said that? What do you think he was particularly impressed with?”