Whether you are building your career in the HVAC & Refrigeration industry or just getting started, you want to do everything in your power to succeed. Building your technical competence is a given. But boosting your confidence is just as important. And, as it turns out, the two are related. Here’s what you need to know about competence and confidence, and some advice to help you build both.
The relationship between competence and confidence
Experts have described the relationship between competence and confidence as a loop. When you work on one, it feeds the other. Competence builds confidence, which in turn helps you build more competence. Here’s an example of how that works.
When you work hard and practice your technical skills to get better at a specific part of your job, you build competence. You can complete a project faster, without supervision, and that makes your customer, your boss, and your coworkers happy. When you experience their reactions, and when you realize the change in your abilities, that gives you more confidence in yourself. With more confidence, you are more likely to take on additional challenges. When you do that, you learn more and continue to increase your competence. Do you see how that feeds on itself?
7 ways to build your competence and confidence
1. Ask questions on the job
As a new technician, you have a lot to learn. Even the most experienced technicians need to keep learning to keep up with new technology and tools. So whenever you encounter a situation that’s unfamiliar, don’t hesitate to ask questions of others who have more knowledge and experience.
Sometimes people worry about revealing their inexperience and clam up. That’s a poor decision. Doing that limits your ability to learn more and you’ll stay inexperienced, which will undermine both your competence and confidence.
2. Learn from experts on your own
To build your competence quickly, don’t rely on your employer to teach you everything. Take the time to seek out knowledge on your own. Read industry publications, listen to podcasts, and follow blogs and Youtube channels published by experts. You may even be able to take classes offered by industry associations or equipment or tools manufacturers.
Become a sponge! It’s a practice you should start as soon as you make the decision to work in the HVACR industry, and keep up until you retire. Here’s are two articles that identify some great resources for learning:
HVAC Resources for Service Technicians
Best HVAC Podcasts for Service Technicians
3. Build your “soft skills”
Employers tend to focus on teaching you technical skills. But so-called “soft skills” are equally important to your success. These include things like communication skills, time management, and building relationships with customers. These skills make you more competent when it comes to making customers happy and getting your work done on time. When you are able to meet all the challenges you face on the job (not just the technical ones), that builds your confidence, too.
Learn more:
How to Deliver Bad News to Customers
Technicians: How to Use Time Wisely & Get More Done
How to Build Relationships with Customers
4. Practice what you learn
Make it a point to practice everything. If you’re an apprentice or junior technician, ask for opportunities to try new skills on the job. You can also practice your skills with tools at home.
Practice effective communication and other soft skills in your life outside of work. Try using what you’ve learned about building relationships with your family and friends. Try out your time management skills to get more done at home. You may be amazed at how these skills improve your life! And (you guessed it) the results you get will improve your confidence as well.
5. Fake it ‘til you make it
One of the reasons confidence is so important is that it impacts the way others relate to you, including customers and coworkers. If you’re very new and not all that confident in your abilities, here’s one helpful trick: try to look and act like you’re confident even if you’re not quite there yet.
Look people in the eye, hold your head up high, smile and be friendly. Project a positive attitude. You may be surprised at how quickly you will feel more confident when you act more confident.
6. Learn from mistakes
This is another bit of sage advice that can improve both your competence and confidence. Everyone makes mistakes. But don’t keep making the same mistakes repeatedly. Make your mistakes work for you by taking the lesson to heart and taking action to make sure it doesn’t happen again.
7. Don’t be too hard on yourself
Beating yourself up for every mistake or misstep is not productive. It undermines your confidence, and may prevent you from trying to learn what you need to know the next time you encounter the same problem.
Silence your inner critic. Instead, remind yourself about the things you are doing right, and commit to working hard to improve your skills and decisions.
Resources to build your skills as an HVACR technician
Get more advice and information from our articles and videos for HVAC and Refrigeration technicians.
HVACR Career Connect NY was created to promote the exceptional quality-of-life benefits of a career in HVAC and Refrigeration service, and also to provide a clear path for getting started in the profession. In doing so, we serve as a resource for employers in the New York City metro area to find and hire smart and capable new technicians. We also serve as an educational resource to support business growth and to help service technicians succeed in their chosen profession.
Learn about technical careers in the HVAC & Refrigeration industry, how to get hired and tips to build your career.