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showing empathy during the process and allowing all narratives to be heard and considered.”

Avoid comparisons (and social media scrolling).

“Comparison is the thief of joy, and it also destroys confidence,” cautioned Nic Haralambous, a South African entrepreneur and author of How to Start a Side Hustle, who pointed to social media as a potential instigator of comparative thoughts.

“Social media makes it easy to feel like everyone else has a plan and is moving on up … but remember that for every impressive and envious post you’re viewing, there are countless other things that happen in a person’s life that they don’t post on social media.”

According to Haralambous, the more you “like” and follow others on these platforms, the more difficult it becomes to build and maintain your own confidence. “Do what you do, and remain consistent and aligned with your own goals,” he advised.

Be proactive about getting support.

When working remotely, finance professionals may find it harder to speak up when they are struggling in a particular area. Yet according to Boateng, the process of identifying an area of weakness, difficulty, or inexperience — and asking for support — can build one’s confidence.

“It takes courage to admit you may be struggling with something, but asking for help or guidance is, in itself, a sign of strength,” he said. “In my own teams, when someone has reached out for support and has clearly identified an area that needs focus or development, I see that as a sign of confidence and an eagerness to improve.”

— Jessica Hubbard is a freelance writer based in South Africa. To comment on this article or to suggest an idea for another article, contact Drew Adamek, an FM magazine senior editor, at Andrew.Adamek@aicpa-cima.com.