Your strategy is… building "Grounded Confidence"!

Hey there, friend!

You’re a compassionate and empathetic person, and the last thing you want to be seen as arrogant. You don't like conflict and want others to think highly of you. You’re very hard working and want to get things right – being overly confident about work that ends up being wrong is something you want to avoid at all costs.

These traits make you a great person to work with, a fantastic scientist/engineer and an asset to your company. But it tends to leave you overworked and with a backlog of tasks that you can never seem to get out from under. You have a hard time asking for help, admitting you don't know something, or applying for higher positions.

One of the biggest mistakes many of us make is confusing real, true, grounded confidence for arrogance and a "I'm right, you're wrong" type of attitude.

This type of "confidence" feels harsh because it's a form of armour. It's aim is to dominate, not collaborate.

Instead, true confidence is a willingness to put down the armour, and be courageous, vulnerable and curious. It doesn't require us to have all the answers, but ask questions. It allows us to create our own boundaries and opinions, while also respecting others. Ultimately, it allows us to be better leaders AND scientists.

Read on for 3 tips to building grounded confidence. Check your inbox for a detailed breakdown and action plan to start implementing it.

3 Steps to Building Grounded Confidence

1. Notice and Name

Think of a time where you were not experiencing confidence and write out what you were feeling and thinking instead. The more specific the better. What did you do/not do when you were feeling this way? What did you want to happen instead?

2. Practice Curiosity

Curiosity is the skill of asking questions to find answers and solutions. Question the thoughts you wrote down:

Are they true?
Are they useful?
What would be different for you if the opposite was true?
What do you need to feel prepared and grounded in this moment?

3. Commit to Practice

Any time we want to make a change or build a skill, we have to EXPECT it to not go well and commit to practicing it anyways.

A fast-track to improvement is evaluating how it went at the end of each week:

What went well?
What was tricky?
What might you do differently next time?

Check Your Inbox!

Be sure to check your inbox for a detailed breakdown and and action plan to start implementing the steps right away.

Who I am...

Hi👋, I’m Jolene Hermanson! I’m a life coach and professional geoscientist. I help women in geoscience and engineering take control of their time, build confidence and create a life they love.

I've been where you are. I learned what I thought was confidence by watching older males. I watched them often rip apart others work, question the competence of others, and talk for long periods of time while others listened. When I wasn't sure of something, I would sometimes pretend I knew so that I wasn't "found out". I would try to have ALL the answers before I went to a job site, and would get frustrated, resentful and overwhelmed when I'd find out my plans needed to change.

I believed my brain when it told me something was impossible, or there was no other way to do something, including coming back to work after having children. I reluctantly ended up quitting my job, which felt was like giving up 7+ years of schooling and 6+ years of work experience.

Somewhere along the way I discovered coaching. Coaching felt like magic – I had powerful breakthroughs through a few simple shifts in perspective and creating a strong vision that changed everything for me.

Eventually I started to wonder if I could continue my "impossible job" with these new coaching tools and my own coach supporting me….

It has made all the difference.

I went back to work at the same job, but was able to ask to work the hours I want, have the freedom I want, learn and work with brilliant and kind individuals, travel with my family, and prioritize my relationships, health and fitness.

All while working the same "impossible job".

Now I want to help you do the same! If you’re here to put in the work, I’m here to help!

Looking for some more inspiration to boost your sense of confidence and harmony in work and life?

1. Keep up with me on LinkedIn. I post work-life balance and confidence tips daily. From creating a vision and focus, to improving your physical health, to building grounded confidence, to time management and more!

2. Have a tricky situation and not sure what to do? Download my Sphere of Control Worksheet to help you create a clear strategy by understanding where you might be trying to control things you have no control over or not taking full responsibility for things you do have control over. It's a simple worksheet - but effective.

3. Hop on a free 60-minute call with me! I’ll provide you with a whole bunch of clarity and at least one or two ways to unlock your dream vision for your life! These calls are 100% confidential and I have done hundreds at this point. I'll tell you about working with me so you can get the on-going guidance, accountability and support that will help you fast-track to your goals, but there's no pressure to do that. Most of all, these calls are fun and my goal is for you to walk away feeling clear, settled and excited about a new possibility moving forward.

And be sure to check your inbox, because I’ll be sending you a free all sorts of other valuable resources!

Book a 60-Minute Call