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Laura Best 6/29/26 Laura Best 6/29/26

How to Build Passion at Work: What Self-Efficacy SCIENCE Reveals

Building passion at work starts with understanding self-efficacy — and why it matters more than confidence. Psychologist Albert Bandura's research shows that our belief in our ability to successfully perform a task is one of the key drivers of passion at work. The more evidence we gather that we can learn, adapt and succeed, the more likely we are to develop deep, lasting passion for what we do. Here's what the science says — and what you can do with it.

If we were having coffee, and you asked me how to do more of your best work, here's what I'd say: Stop chasing confidence!

I know, it feels a bit harsh, doesn't it?! Confidence is a beautiful thing; that feeling of lightness, of flow and being ourselves. My intention is not to devalue it.

But, I see many leaders waiting for confidence, like it's always out of their grasp, and it's stopping them from achieving what they truly want.

"Susie is just a better choice for it."
"I'm too old."
"They'll think I'm going backwards."

When we wait to feel confident, we miss chances to build the skills and experiences that helps confidence grow.

In my keynotes, I teach another concept that can help move our brains forward: self-efficacy. Psychologist Albert Bandura gave us this concept – it's a bit of a tongue twister to say, but it's incredibly helpful. Simply put, we start to believe we can do something well by doing it. It might sound like a vicious circle, but research shows it is true: self-efficacy is linked to building passion for our work.

The more we see that we can learn, adapt, and succeed, the more likely we are to go after work that challenges and fulfills us. When we push ourselves, we often find new strengths, new interests, and more passion for our work.

One way I like to think about it is that confidence is often about how we appear to others, while self-efficacy can strengthen us from the inside.

Think about the promotion you’ve delayed, the certification you want to earn, or the project you’re waiting to feel ready for.

Is there a small step you can take to move forward, to prove to yourself that you CAN do it?

Reference:
Bandura, A. (1997). Self-efficacy: The exercise of control. W.H. Freeman.

I’m Laura Best, a motivational keynote speaker and bestselling author. I help organisations activate passion to drive energy, engagement, and performance through my Practical Inspiration® approach. If you’re thinking about how this conversation could support your leaders or teams, you can learn more about my keynote work here.

Passion Chats, hosted by Laura Best, features real stories from Passionados who are pursuing their passions through work, creativity or creating a positive impact for others.