Self-Confidence the Secret to Workplace Advancement

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/10/121018103214.htm

cienceDaily (Oct. 17, 2012) — The old saying "fake it until you make it" might actually be sound professional advice, with new University of Melbourne research finding self-confidence is a key determinant of workplace success.

Drawing upon more than 100 interviews with professional staff in large corporations in Melbourne, New York and Toronto, the pilot study found a strong correlation between confidence and occupational success

Participants were asked to describe their level of confidence at primary school, high school, university, and present day. Those who self-reported higher levels of confidence earlier in school earned better wages, and were promoted more quickly.

Lead author Dr Reza Hasmath, from the University's School of Social and Political Sciences, said the research demonstrates a crucial ingredient of workplace advancement.

"The implications are tremendous in terms of the personality employers should look for when it comes to hiring or promoting staff,"Dr Hasmath said.

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Anybody who's actually been in the workforce knows this is true, but that these confident people are often not really doing a good job. So I do not agree with the apparent conclusion that employers should look for these traits in people they hire. I would say they should be careful that they are not being seduced into hiring people who may not actually be competent.