Training Journal - Article by Penny Haslam - Confidence is a business issue, not a personal weakness

Training Journal – Confidence is a business issue, not a personal weakness

Articles by Bit Famous published in the media

Training Journal - Article by Penny Haslam published Oct 2026

raining Journal - Penny Haslam Article on Confidence at Work

Training Journal - Confidence is a business issue, not a personal weakness

In this Training Journal article, Penny Haslam argues that workplace confidence is far more than a personal issue. It affects who speaks up, shares ideas, puts themselves forward and progresses — with consequences for inclusion, wellbeing, engagement and organisational performance.

Drawing on Penny’s experience as an executive coach and award-winning motivational speaker specialising in communication and confidence at work, the article explains why confidence should be viewed as a skill rather than a fixed personality trait. It explores how self-doubt can leave capable colleagues holding back, particularly during periods of change, uncertainty and rising pressure at work.

Penny makes the case for organisations to develop confidence deliberately through training, supportive managers and everyday conversations. She shares practical ways people leaders can identify where confidence affects progression, give colleagues opportunities to practise it and create a shared language that makes self-doubt easier to discuss.

Read the full article: Training Journal - Confidence is a business issue, not a personal weakness by Penny Haslam

Let's Talk - Book a no-obligation discovery call

More articles by Penny Haslam and Bit Famous in the media

Featured image for “Training Journal – Confidence is a business issue, not a personal weakness”

Training Journal – Confidence is a business issue, not a personal weakness

In this Training Journal article, Penny Haslam argues that workplace confidence is far more than a personal issue. It affects who speaks up, shares ideas, puts themselves forward and progresses — with consequences for inclusion, wellbeing, engagement and organisational performance. Drawing on Penny’s experience as an executive coach and award-winning…
Featured image for “Fast Company – How to use humour at work effectively”

Fast Company – How to use humour at work effectively

Humour can be one of the quickest ways to connect with people at work. It can warm up a room, make a message more memorable and help colleagues see the person behind the job title. But used badly, it can distract, exclude or leave somebody else carrying the joke. In…
Featured image for “FT Adviser – How advisers can fight back against AI and FinTok”

FT Adviser – How advisers can fight back against AI and FinTok

In this FT Adviser article, Bit Famous MD Penny Haslam examines the growing challenge posed by AI search and persuasive but unqualified ‘FinTok’ voices. The article draws on Bit Famous’s work with advisers at The Private Office, where clients increasingly arrived with investment ideas picked up from TikTok and Instagram.…
Featured image for “HR Grapevine – From No. 10 to your office – managing the anxiety of a new leader”

HR Grapevine – From No. 10 to your office – managing the anxiety of a new leader

Article summary – HR Grapevine – From No. 10 to your office: managing the anxiety of a new leader A new leader arriving at the top of an organisation can create excitement, but it can also trigger uncertainty, anxiety and speculation. Employees quickly begin looking for clues about what will…
Featured image for “HR Magazine – Beyond Starmer: Five ways HR can help leaders earn trust”

HR Magazine – Beyond Starmer: Five ways HR can help leaders earn trust

Here’s a fuller version with more of the article’s argument and practical value: A new leader may arrive with a clear brief, plenty of energy and an ambitious vision for the future. But if they step into an organisation shaped by change, conflict, disappointment or low trust, charging ahead too…
Featured image for “HR Zone – Five steps to stop senior meetings ending in agreement but no action”

HR Zone – Five steps to stop senior meetings ending in agreement but no action

Senior meetings often seem productive at first. People agree, nod along, and it feels like everyone is on the same page. But once the meeting ends, nothing actually changes. In this HR Zone article, I look at why so many senior meetings end with agreement but no real action. The…
Featured image for “Training Journal – Can you teach self-belief?”

Training Journal – Can you teach self-belief?

Can you teach self-belief? Penny Haslam’s answer is a firm yes, but not by handing people a motivational mug and hoping for the best. In this article for Training Journal, Penny challenges the idea that confidence is something you either have or you don’t. Confidence moves. It rises and falls…
Featured image for “People Management – How can the BBC utilise the ‘outsider advantage’?”

People Management – How can the BBC utilise the ‘outsider advantage’?

When a senior outsider walks into a big leadership job, people don’t always roll out the bunting. In this article for People Management, Penny Haslam looks at Matt Brittin’s move from Google EMEA to the top job at the BBC and asks a useful question: how can organisations help an…