During university, you would rarely find me putting my hand up or speaking aloud during a lecture because I didn’t want to accidentally embarrass myself. Similarly on social media, I don’t tend to post very much or put myself out there in case I end up looking silly.

One thing I have learnt in the world of business, through my own experience and talking to business owners across Oxfordshire, is that it is so important that you are willing to embarrass yourself. Now, I don’t mean you should act like a fool so people laugh at you! More so, employers look for candidates who are really proactive, think outside the box, and think innovatively which can sometimes be a little embarrassing.

This can take many forms in the workplace and have a great impact on your work and career. Being willing to step outside of your comfort zone not only shows your employer how keen you are for your work, but it also puts you ahead of your peers who are still sat inside the box and develops you as a person.

For example, if I worried too much about how I came across in videos that I post on my LinkedIn, then my personal development would have been limited in terms of growing my confidence, being creative in finding ways to share my work, and reaching new people. It might get a laugh in my friends group chat, but personally and commercially my confidence online has added such value.

Also, in terms of confidence, I have grown from not speaking in a lecture theatre to now speaking in front of 80+ business owners at networking events! Check out my blog on why you should network before you to where I share more about the benefits of stepping out of your comfort zone for networking.

Being a little bit silly is also great for teamwork and dynamic. In November, my MD Ben and I took part in Movember, supporting each other in our moustache efforts. It was great to support and encourage each other but also work together for such an amazing cause, even if I looked very silly online! To find out more about Movember as a charity and the great work they do, please click here, and to see how Ben and I did, please click here.

It may take some time to develop the confidence to put yourself in an uncomfortable situation at work and be willing to be proactive and put yourself out there, but as you grow, you will see how great ‘embarrassing’ yourself at work will be for you and your business.