Confident At Work

Anna Manning

Confident at Work is a weekly podcast by Confidence Coach Anna Manning, designed to help professionals feel calm, capable, and confident at work. Each episode explores the real challenges behind self-doubt, overthinking, and imposter feelings - and gives you practical tools to manage your mind, handle pressure, and show up with confidence.

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198 episodes
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Episodes198

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Oct 13, 2025 · 31 min
158. How To Spot Your Public Speaking Fear Patterns [Ep:2 How To Be More Confident Public Speaking]
In episode 1 we looked at the foundations you need to build public speaking confidence, this episode is about helping you to figure out what’s actually tripping you up now - the surface patterns and the unconscious stories buried underneath. Spotting these patterns is the essential first step to changing them, so i'm inviting you to play detective! In this episode you’ll hear: A quick reminder of our episode 1 foundations. How to spot the surface patterns that show up before, during and after public speaking moments. Why those patterns usually link back to old experiences your brain stored (and the meaning you attached to them). A practical pattern-spotting walkthrough you can use to figure out your patterns. You can view the Low Confidence Cycle here. Want to be more Confident At Work? Start here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠take our free: Confidence Assessment ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Get private support to feel confident at work - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠book a call to explore private coaching⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Explore and join the ⁠Confident At Work Membership ⁠ Cover art by Jacob McFadden Theme song by Melissa Carter @ Making Audio Magic
Oct 6, 2025 · 26 min
157. How to Be More Confident In Public Speaking Mini Series: Episode 1: Foundations
Public speaking. Presenting. Walking to the podium. Joining a panel. Delivering training. These are the moments that don’t just require you to do your job well - they ask you to be visible. In this first episode of my three-part mini-series, How to Feel More Confident Public Speaking , we’re starting with the foundations you need to get in place if you're going to feel more confident public speaking. You’ll hear: Why your current level of nerves are actually happening. How past experiences and the “meaning” you made of them are shaping your reactions today. Why self-judgement and harsh self-talk keep the pattern locked in place. The essential first steps to begin shifting your experience:drop the judgement and cut the trash talking. Next up in this series: Episode 2 – Figuring It Out: Spot your triggers and patterns around presenting and public speaking. Episode 3 – Changing It: Practical tools to calm your body and rewire your responses. Want to be more Confident At Work? Start here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠take our free: Confidence Assessment ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Get private support to feel confident at work - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠book a call to explore private coaching⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Explore and join the ⁠Confident At Work Members Programme Cover art by Jacob McFadden Theme song by Melissa Carter @ Making Audio Magic
Sep 29, 2025 · 23 min
156. Do You Really Need to Be “Nice”?
We’ve all thought it: “I can’t say that (I need to be nice)”. But what do we really mean by nice, and how does it impact us at work? “Nice” often shows up as: not giving direct feedback, not setting boundaries, not stating expectations clearly; or avoiding “disappointing” people. In this episode, I’ll walk you through: Why “nice” holds us back at work, How childhood messages, cultural norms, and confidence cycles feed the myth of “nice,” A reframe you can use to be clear, respectful, and caring - without being unkind, Simple strategies to help you step out of the “nice trap” and into real, confident communication. Want to be more Confident At Work? Start here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠take our free: Confidence Assessment ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Get private support to feel confident at work - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠book a call to explore private coaching⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Explore and join the ⁠Confident At Work Membership ⁠ Cover art by Jacob McFadden Theme song by Melissa Carter @ Making Audio Magic
Sep 22, 2025 · 19 min
155. How to Build the Foundations for Career Confidence
Confidence is a lot like a building. It can look solid on the outside, but if the foundations underneath it aren’t strong, sooner or later the cracks will start to show! In this episode, Anna shares: Why strong foundations matter for your confidence and long-term career growth The difference between strong and weak foundations How to stress-test your confidence against real workplace “storms” Practical ways to repair cracks and build stronger foundations for your confidence now Whether you’re stepping into a senior role, facing new challenges, or simply feeling the wobble, this episode will help you figure out how to strengthen the base you need to withstand the thrills and spills of your career! Episode Resources: See the High and Low Confidence Cycles here Want to be more Confident At Work? Start here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠take our free: Confidence Assessment ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Get private support to feel confident at work - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠book a call to explore private coaching⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Explore and join the ⁠Confident At Work Membership ⁠ Cover art by Jacob McFadden Theme song by Melissa Carter @ Making Audio Magic
Aug 21, 2025 · 18 min
154. Stop Trying To Fix Low Confidence (And Do This Instead)
You know what you should be doing at work, whether it's speaking up, having the tough conversation or letting go of over-perfecting things. But actually doing it? Sometimes that’s a different story. In this episode of Confident at Work, I talk about the gap between knowing what you need to do and actually doing it. We’ll explore those behaviour’s which seem to stubbornly refuse to change despite your best efforts and intentions! Here's what you'll learn by listening: Why knowing what to do and actually doing it are not the same thing! How ‘fix-it mode’ often creates more pressure and less progress. The clues those stubborn behaviours contain, and how to start listening. Real change - which sticks - starts with exploring why the behaviour is happening, rather than forcing yourself to stop. Want to be more Confident At Work? Start here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠take our free: Confidence Assessment ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Get private support to feel confident at work - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠book a call to explore private coaching⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Explore and join the ⁠Confident At Work Membership ⁠ Cover art by Jacob McFadden Theme song by Melissa Carter @ Making Audio Magic
Jul 23, 2025 · 15 min
153. Make Your ‘To Be’ List Before Your ‘To Do’ List
Before you dive into your tasks for the day, ask yourself this: Who do I want to be while I’m doing all this? In this episode, I share why your ‘To Be’ list is more important than your to-do list - especially if you’re someone who often overthinks, overworks, or over-prepares. You'll learn how to bring intention to your day by choosing how you want to show up, not just what you get done. We’ll also explore how this practice supports the High Confidence Cycle by helping you build internal habits of being realistic, encouraging, and trusting instead of pressured, perfectionist, or self-critical. Want to be more Confident At Work? Start here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠take our free: Confidence Assessment ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Get private support to feel confident at work - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠book a call to explore private coaching⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Explore and join the ⁠Confident At Work Membership ⁠ Cover art by Jacob McFaddenTheme song by Melissa Carter @ Making Audio Magic
Jul 15, 2025 · 24 min
152. Why Professionals Struggle With Fear of Failure (Even When They Haven’t Failed!)
You’ve heard the quotes - failure is feedback, fail fast, celebrate your mistakes! But if you’re a professional, failure doesn’t feel like a growth opportunity. It feels risky. Maybe even dangerous. In this episode, we look at the disconnect between what gets said about failure and what it actually feels like in our professional lives - especially in environments where you’re trained to get it right. We’ll explore: How fear of failure quietly fuels overworking, people-pleasing, and perfectionism Why most professionals haven’t “failed” big - but still feel haunted by the idea of it The difference between knowing a failure is probably not going to be career ending, and feeling safe enough to stop the habits designed to avoid it Plus, a simple challenge to spot your own failure-avoidance pattern and take a step towards real confidence. Want to be more Confident At Work? Start here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠take our free: Confidence Assessment ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Get private support to feel confident at work - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠book a call to explore private coaching⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Explore and join the ⁠Confident At Work Membership ⁠ Cover art by Jacob McFadden Theme song by Melissa Carter @ Making Audio Magic
Jul 8, 2025 · 22 min
151. The Psychological Safety No One Talks About: Internal Psychological Safety
⁠Click here to join us for the Confident At Work Foundations Masterclass happening 17 September 2025! ⁠ Psychological safety is a hot topic in workplaces - but there’s a crucial layer we’re not talking about: internal psychological safety. In this episode, Anna explores what it means to feel safe with yourself, not just within your team. You'll learn why confidence isn't only built in supportive environments, but in your own internal culture, and how to start shifting that if yours feels more punishing than safe. Want to be more Confident At Work? Start here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠take our free: Confidence Assessment ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Get private support to feel confident at work - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠book a call to explore private coaching⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Explore and join the ⁠Confident At Work Membership ⁠ Cover art by Jacob McFadden Theme song by Melissa Carter @ Making Audio Magic
Jul 1, 2025 · 16 min
150. Fact or Fiction: When Your Brain’s Better at Drama Than Netflix
Ever spiralled after a perfectly normal email? Yeah, same :-) In this episode, we’re separating fact from fiction and calling out the brain drama that wrecks your confidence. You’ll learn how to spot when your mind’s making stuff up (spoiler: it’s often) and how to get back to solid ground. I’ll walk you through: A super simple fact-vs-drama check-in tool Three common scenarios where our minds go full soap opera Why this matters if you want to feel calmer, clearer, and more confident at work Tune in and take your confidence back from your inner drama llama. Want to be more Confident At Work? Start here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠take our free: Confidence Assessment ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Get private support to feel confident at work - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠book a call to explore private coaching⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Explore and join the ⁠Confident At Work Membership ⁠ Cover art by Jacob McFadden Theme song by Melissa Carter @ Making Audio Magic
Jun 23, 2025 · 16 min
149. How to Stop Running Your Career on Fossil Fuel
You’re performing. You’re delivering. Great - but what’s actually driving you day to day? Many high performers are secretly powering their success with a unsustainable fuel source - fear: 🔁 Fear of not being good enough 🔁 Fear of falling behind; and 🔁 Fear of being found out In this episode, we explore whether you're using the equivalent of fossil fuels to power your career. Sure they work - but they have byproducts which pollute and destroy your confidence. We’ll look at: How fear-fuelled performance works The hidden toll it takes on confidence and wellbeing What renewable energy and motivation looks and sounds like High performance doesn’t have to run on the equivalent of fossil fuels. What if your success could run on a cleaner, more sustainable fuel source? Find out how you can switch to 100% renewable motivation and drive in 2025! Want to be more Confident At Work? Start here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠take our free: Confidence Assessment ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Get private support to feel confident at work - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠book a call to explore private coaching⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Explore and join the ⁠Confident At Work Membership ⁠ Cover art by Jacob McFadden Theme song by Melissa Carter @ Making Audio Magic
Jun 17, 2025 · 15 min
148. How To Get Over The Fear of Looking Under-Confident
It’s one thing to feel unconfident - but it’s another thing entirely to fear and focus on the fact that others can see it. That fear can spiral fast: you’re no longer just doing the thing… you’re managing how you look doing it. In this episode, we explore: Why this fear runs so deep — especially for high-achievers and leaders How worrying about being seen as nervous fuels more nerves The truth about confidence (hint: it’s not about never wobbling) What shifts when you stop focusing on hiding your nerves and show up anyway Want to be more Confident At Work? Start here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠take our free: Confidence Assessment ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Get private support to feel confident at work - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠book a call to explore private coaching⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Explore and join the ⁠Confident At Work Membership ⁠ Cover art by Jacob McFadden Theme song by Melissa Carter @ Making Audio Magic
Jun 10, 2025 · 28 min
147. Confidence and Connection: Why You Lose One When You Lose the Other
⁠Click here to join us for the Confident At Work Foundations Masterclass happening 17 September 2025! ⁠ When confidence is low, connection gets lost. In this episode, we explore how self-doubt pulls your attention away from the moment - making it harder to connect with yourself, your work, your team, and the people around you. From one-to-one conversations to big presentations, in this episode Anna shares examples of how being in your head stops you being present . If you’ve ever felt like you weren’t quite “there” in the room and you're wondering how to get back there, this one's for you. Want to be more Confident At Work? Start here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠take our free: Confidence Assessment ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Get private support to feel confident at work - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠book a call to explore private coaching⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Explore and join the ⁠Confident At Work Membership ⁠ Cover art by Jacob McFadden Theme song by Melissa Carter @ Making Audio Magic
Jun 5, 2025 · 25 min
146. How We Got Here: The Story Behind Confident at Work
Confident at Work Turns 3: The Journey So Far This week marks three years of the podcast — and I’m celebrating by taking you behind the scenes. In this episode, I’m sharing the story of how Confident at Work began, why I started it, and how my winding career path - from law to coaching, brought me here. You’ll hear about the doubts, the pivots, and the moments that shaped both my work and this podcast. Whether you’ve been listening since the early days or just found the show, this one’s a personal thank-you and a reflection on what it really takes to build something with confidence! Want to be more Confident At Work? Start here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠take our free: Confidence Assessment ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Get private support to feel confident at work - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠book a call to explore private coaching⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Explore and join the ⁠Confident At Work Membership ⁠ Cover art by Jacob McFadden Theme song by Melissa Carter @ Making Audio Magic
Jun 1, 2025 · 12 min
145. 10 Moments That Make or Break Confidence
You’re more powerful than you think - especially when it comes to your confidence. In this episode, I’m revealing 10 small, everyday moments that quietly build or batter your confidence at work. Most of them fly under the radar, but once you can see them, you can change them, and use your power for the good of your confidence! From how you handle feedback to what you say after a meeting, these micro-moments shape how confident you feel day to day. 🎯 By the end of the episode, you’ll know exactly where your power lies - and how to start using it on purpose so you can feel more confident at work. Want to be more Confident At Work? Start here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠take our free: Confidence Assessment ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Get private support to feel confident at work - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠book a call to explore private coaching⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Explore and join the ⁠Confident At Work Membership ⁠ Cover art by Jacob McFadden Theme song by Melissa Carter @ Making Audio Magic
May 21, 2025 · 17 min
144. How To Get Out Of Reactive Mode
Most people live in reactive mode at work - constantly responding, firefighting, replying and scrambling to keep up. It’s draining, and it quietly chips away at your confidence. In this short episode, I break down the difference between reactive vs proactive behaviour and why learning to get ahead (just a little!) can change how you feel, work, and lead. Expect: Real-life examples of reactive traps What being proactive actually looks like A coaching question to help you shift gears Want to be more Confident At Work? Start here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠take our free: Confidence Assessment ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Get private support to feel confident at work - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠book a call to explore private coaching⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Explore and join the ⁠Confident At Work Membership ⁠ Cover art by Jacob McFadden Theme song by Melissa Carter @ Making Audio Magic
May 13, 2025 · 2 min
BONUS: Your Invitation To Our Free Confidence Training (28 May 2025)
👉 Book your spot in our free training here. After hundreds of hours coaching brilliant professionals who want to feel more confident, I’ve seen the same patterns again and again. I know what actually works, and what doesn’t – when it comes to building lasting confidence at work. That’s why I’ve created a free, 60-minute online session to share the most powerful tools and insights I’ve collected so far. You are invited to join us free: 👉 How To Be More Confident at Work 📅 Wednesday 28 May 2025 ⏰ 13:00 BST 🎟 Free to attend – book your place now: https://www.yesyoucoaching.com/grow-your-professional-confidence-2025-2026 In this live session, you’ll: Learn what actually builds confidence at work - and what chips away at it Identify your own confidence blockers and blind spots Leave with a clear, personalised plan to grow your confidence in 2025/26 Whether you’re holding back in meetings, overthinking feedback, or just tired of self-doubt, this class is for you. I’d love for you to join me! Book your spot here → https://www.yesyoucoaching.com/grow-your-professional-confidence-2025-2026
May 9, 2025 · 13 min
143. When You Think Confidence Means Being the Loudest Person in the Room
If you’ve ever looked around at work and thought, “I need to be more like them to be confident,” this episode is for you. In today’s conversation, we’re busting one of the most persistent myths about confidence - that it means being the loudest voice in the room. The one who always speaks up first, takes up space, and never seems unsure. But what if that isn't you? What if you’re a quiet leader? What if you think carefully and more slowly? This episode is a gentle call back to yourself. We’ll explore: Why the “loud = confident” myth is so persistent (and so damaging) What real confidence looks like — and why it can be quiet, thoughtful, and grounded How to stop performing confidence and start being it Whether you’re a deep thinker, a reflector or quiet doer, this episode is your reminder: you don’t need to change your personality on the road to being more confident. Join the Membership: We’re heading into Year 2 of the Confident at Work Membership and it’s the perfect time to join! You’ll get 12 months of expert coaching, practical support, and real connection, all designed to help you be more Confident At Work 👉 Join here 👉 Book a call to explore private coaching. 👉 Find out if you’re stuck in a low confidence cycle - take the assessment. Cover art by Jacob McFadden Theme song by Melissa Carter @ Making Audio Magic
May 2, 2025 · 20 min
142. How To Stop Worrying You're Going To Sound Stupid
Have you ever held back from speaking in a meeting because you thought you might sound stupid? You’re not alone - and this episode is for you. In today’s episode of Confident at Work, we explore the all-too-familiar fear that arises right before you want to speak up: “What if I sound stupid?” Whether you're asking a question, sharing an idea, or challenging something in the room, that fear can derail your confidence and silence yourself. I’ll walk you through what’s actually happening in those moments, why your brain jumps to self-doubt, and how to shift out of it so you can contribute with more clarity, calm, and confidence. You'll learn what it takes to stop the overthinking - so you can start focusing on what you actually want to say. In this episode, you'll learn: Why the fear of sounding stupid is so common (even among smart, capable professionals) What happens internally when that fear shows up How to interrupt the cycle so you can feel more engaged and less self-conscious This episode is for you if: You regularly think, “I’m going to sound stupid” just before speaking You stay quiet even when you have something valuable to say You want to feel more present, relaxed, and confident in meetings Want to be more Confident At Work? Start here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠take our free: Confidence Assessment ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Get private support to feel confident at work - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠book a call to explore private coaching⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Explore and join the ⁠Confident At Work Membership ⁠ Cover art by Jacob McFadden Theme song by Melissa Carter @ Making Audio Magic
Apr 22, 2025 · 11 min
141. Curing Workplace Phobias
You know how hypnosis is famous for curing phobias like spiders or fear of flying? Well, I’m using it to help cure workplace phobias too - think those moments that send your system into overdrive, whether that's presentations, big meetings, tricky colleagues, job interviews. In this episode, I’m breaking down: What workplace phobias actually are (and why they’re more common than you think) How they’re just like traditional phobias - the brain wiring is the same Why it’s not about logic, and how that helps us move forward Real-life examples of workplace phobias I see in my clients How I’m using hypnosis to help people rewire their fear response and feel more confident If you’ve ever totally panicked before or during a big meeting, gone totally blank mid-presentation, or found yourself dreading interactions with certain people, maybe it's a workplace phobia! Listen on to find out. Want to be more Confident At Work? Start here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠take our free: Confidence Assessment ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Get private support to feel confident at work - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠book a call to explore private coaching/hypnosis⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Explore and join the ⁠Confident At Work Membership ⁠
Apr 14, 2025 · 24 min
140. How Hypnosis Can Help You Feel More Confident At Work
This week on Confident at Work, I’m taking you behind the scenes of my coaching practice - and sharing the frustration that led me to seek out a new tool for helping clients feel more confident at work. When clients faced those big, scary moments - the ones that made them panic, freeze, or go completely offline - I realised I needed something else. A method that could turn down the fear and turn up the confidence. Enter hypnosis. Just like hypnosis has been used to cure phobias of spiders, I use it to help clients shift their fear of public speaking, big meetings, or intimidating colleagues. In this episode, I’ll share three powerful ways I use hypnosis to help clients build confidence at work: Reconditioning unhelpful responses Mentally rehearsing confident versions of key moments Accessing deep insight from the unconscious mind Whether you're curious about how hypnosis works or wondering if it could help you, tune in to learn more. Want to be more Confident At Work? Start here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠take our free: Confidence Assessment ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Get private support to feel confident at work - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠book a call to explore how coaching and hypnosis can support you Explore and join the ⁠Confident At Work Membership ⁠ Cover art by Jacob McFadden Theme song by Melissa Carter @ Making Audio Magic