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I’m a firm believer that what has most impact on successful career development is not your level of education, qualifications or even actual skills, but rather your self-confidence.

When I see the rapid trajectory of some I have worked with, from quite junior roles into service management and beyond, it’s clear that their greatest asset is their bold tenacity.

To be very fluent conversationally helps too, of course. So too a bubbly, optimistic personality. I don’t know if any of these can be taught: I suppose they are derived largely from your environment and upbringing.

Those of us of a more reserved temperament, more inclined to taking the back seat than pushing ourselves forward, are I guess less likely to climb the hierarchy so ambitiously. We’re more likely to sabotage our ascent by underestimating our own abilities.

If we want to get ahead, then we must learn self-belief. Sometimes that can be nurtured by a good manager, but sadly mentoring managers are few and far between. Mostly, we realise, it has to come from within.

In the end, we must start listening to ourselves, and begin appreciating the value we add and the good we’re capable of. Sometimes it means silencing the critical voice instilled in our youth, to at last truly recognise our own worth.

For my part, gradually I am learning to be more kind to myself. In my meetings with teams across our organisation, I have begun paying attention to my contribution, all of a sudden realising that I am considered an expert in my field. Suddenly I realise that I speak with authority.

Could it be that I have found the courage and determination to at last make my presence felt?