COMMUNICATION experts have said that self confidence has a huge impact on career progression and the quality of life of individuals.

They observed that building self confidence is as essential as making deliberate effort to grow and set career targets.

Founder of ‘The Confidence Lab’, Morenikeji Olonilua also known as Renny Mo, said that professional and personal growth for individuals especially women is heavily dependent on how they communicate their potential rather than just their academic or technical knowledge.

Speaking at the maiden edition of the laboratory in Abuja, Olonilua, who is also a development communication professional and broadcaster, noted that a major gap limiting women in corporate and social spaces is the inability to confidently project their value when given the platform.

She explained that her experience as a corporate compere revealed a recurring trend where highly capable women deliberately retreat from the spotlight due to self-doubt.

She observed that “Employers are not just looking for somebody who is knowledgeable, they want somebody who, when we send this person out, they can represent us.

“It’s not just about what you have, it’s about how you dish what you have. Confidence is like a cap on a bottle, what you have inside will only come out when you allow it to come out.”

The communications coach dismissed the notion that self confidence is a fixed destination, describing it instead as a continuous daily practice that cuts across all socio economic strata, from corporate executives to market structures.

Reflecting on her grassroots interventions, Olonilua highlighted her work with the ‘GLW’ community, an initiative that addresses period poverty in underserved communities by bridging the information gap between privileged and underprivileged women through radio advocacy.

She noted that whether in motherhood or enterprise, confidence remains an indispensable tool for execution.
“If you’re a woman and you’re fulfilling an assignment, motherhood. If its business in the marketplaceif you’re selling pepper, sell your pepper with confidence,” she added.

She further urged corporate organizations and mentors to intentionally guide young female professionals against habits like over apologising, which she said undermine their authority in the workplace.

Olonilua maintained that the core objective of the initiative is to trigger an internal awareness that helps women make conscious, progressive efforts towards self-assurance.

In a presentation of self presentation and command of presence, Patience Adaka, a professional photographer, explained that confidence can be seen by the way an individual carries his or herself and that it serves in attention arresting and commanding presence.

According to her, “As a photographer I am attracted to your presence, the way you carry yourself will determine if my camera can focus on you and tell the story of the moment.

“Presence is felt before it is explained, confidence is seen before it is heard, she said. In terms of composition and negative space, the eyes tell everything. People often meet your brand before they meet you.

While speaking on the importance building a personal brand using the social media in making ones presence and confidence felt, Social Media Consultant, Manager and digital strategist, Precious Tega pointed that professional growth is inherently evolutionary, explaining that a personal brand must scale alongside an individual’s changing business interests to maximize market reach.

“Your personal brand should show everything that is about you.

“Don’t try to make yourself look small or say you’re in a niche so much that people can easily limit your customer base. If you do more than one thing, do it. Don’t let anybody stop you from doing what you wanted.”

She emphasized that multifaceted positioning has become a distinct economic advantage in the digital space.
The experts further identified psychological barriers, including imposter syndrome, perfectionism, and the fear of visibility, as major bottlenecks preventing young entrepreneurs from showcasing their value online and building their confidence.

Addressing the security and privacy concerns raised by professionals working in high risk sectors, such as investigative journalism, the strategists advised that individuals do not need to compromise their personal lives to build a strong professional presence.

“You can get professional headshots and write solid, generic captions on industry best practices without going into details,” Tega explained.