Self-confidence the secret to workplace advancement

18 Oct 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 s 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 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. The findings also shed new light on previous studies that argued the existence of 'erotic capital', meaning better looking people are more likely to get ahead in the workplace, or studies which indicate taller people earn higher salaries. "We now know it's actually higher confidence levels - which may be a byproduct of attractiveness and height - which make all the difference," said Hasmath.