Reframing Confidence for Better Performance & Optimal Work

Do you struggle with insecurity, self-doubt, or imposter syndrome or know someone who does? This course will share research and strategies for addressing confidence, and the lack of it. Discover what contributes to or erodes self-confidence and other’s confidence in you. Experiment with mindsets, self-talk, values use, and other tools that research has shown contribute to better performance, engagement, and trust at work. This course includes practical tips to try right away, as well as strategies that may aid you to go beyond self-confidence toward building healthier relationships with self and others over time. Join in to equip yourself with the knowledge, skills, and tools to address confidence at work. 

This 4-week course will include two 60-minute interactive online sessions:

• Week 2 - Understanding Imposter Syndrome
  January 30, 2026 - 11am-12pm, PST (12-1pm MST, 1-2pm CST, 2-3pm EST)
   
• Week 4 - What Builds & Erodes Others’ Confidence in Us?
  February 13, 2026 - 11am-12pm, PST (12-1pm MST, 1-2pm CST, 2-3pm EST)

By the end of the course learners will:

• Gain a better understanding of the nature of confidence.
• Distinguish between lack of confidence, imposter syndrome, low self-esteem, and other concepts associated with self-regard.
• Build awareness of what factors increase and erode self confidence.
• Consider the perks and perils of confidence at work.
• Identify key external biases and stereotypes that may impact confidence and imposterism.
• Practice ways to leverage your strengths, values, and other tools that build stronger confidence and self-regard.
• Discover what instills or erodes others’ confidence in us at work.
• Plan to grow self regard in everyday library situations.

Course Outline: When you log in to the Infopeople online learning site, you will see weekly modules with these topics:

• Week 1: Understanding Confidence
  • Defining confidence and related terms
  • Myths and Misconceptions (perils of confidence)
  • What creates insecurities and self-doubt; what builds more confidence
  • Self-Assessment
• Week 2: Building Self-awareness
  • Identifying strengths, interests, weaknesses Identifying values
  • Mindsets & narratives
  • Facing fears, mistakes, & failures
  • Communicating with confidence
  • Optimal work
  • Social/Emotional Intelligence 360
• Week 3: Barriers to Confidence
  • External influences – biases, society narratives, etc.
  • Context, new situations, competence
  • Language we use
  • Body language
  • Self-talk & rumination
  • Perfectionism
  • Others’ perceptions of us
• Week 4: Beyond Confidence
  • Building a support system – importance of support, finding and working with coaches and mentors, building positive relationships, networking strategies
  • Daily practices, self-care and wellbeing
  • Continuous learning and growth
  • Self-reflection & self-regulation
  • Moving beyond self to other-focused behavior
  • Jump in

Time Required: To complete this course, you can expect to spend 2 1/2 hours per week, for a total of fifteen course hours. Each week's module contains readings and various options for assignments, discussions, or online meetings. You can choose the options most relevant to your work and interests. Although you can work on each module at your own pace, at any hour of the day or night, it is recommended that you complete each week's work within that week to stay in sync with other learners.

Who Should Take This Course: Library staff and managers.  

Do you work in a rural or tribal library? If so, you may be eligible for a no-cost seat in this course. Each course has up to five no-cost seats allocated for rural or tribal libraries. Fill out a fee waiver request, and if a no-cost seat is available you will be notified via email.