Are you struggling with confidence right now? Maybe you’ve just been promoted, been given new responsibilities, or taken on leading a team or initiative. Or for a myriad of other reasons, you just don’t feel quite up to the task at hand.
Here’s a little secret: most of us, even the most seemingly self-possessed, struggle with confidence one time or another. Luckily, we can build belief and trust in ourselves and our abilities using practical, evidence-based steps.
By following these steps, you can not only become more confident with the task at hand, but also shift your identity into becoming a confident person. Feeling and exuding confidence is a component of executive presence and a means to influence.
7 Steps to Building Confidence
- Know your strengths and reflect on your accomplishments. Everyone is good at something. Reflect on what you do well and the positive feedback you’ve received in the past. Think back on your accomplishments. Think about things you were able to learn. You can even do a strengths self-assessment. Reflecting on your strengths and accomplishments builds your self-efficacy.
- Choose the most supportive belief and perspective. You’ve probably heard of the placebo effect. What we believe shapes much of our reality. In one famous study, researchers told one group of hotel maids about the physical benefits (including burning calories) of their work, and left the control group uninformed. The experimental group showed “a decrease in their systolic blood pressure, weight, and waist-to-hip ratio — and a 10 percent drop in blood pressure.” The two groups had not changed any of their behaviors during the experiment – the results were attributed to mindset. For that thing you are lacking confidence on, think about all the other things you’ve learned before. You can learn this one too. Think of yourself as a person that can achieve what you set your mind to do.
- Set a goal and build the path to get there. Goals build hope, which increases confidence. Having an ambitious time-bound, actionable goal (perhaps setting it for one year) is motivating and gives you the energy to learn, experiment, and grow. Having a real plan to get to that goal tells yourself that you mean business. Come up with a major steps you will take to reach the goal by when.
- Chunk the goal down and celebrate micro-wins. Break down that big goal into weekly progress milestones and celebrate your successes. Consistency is as important as intensity while working towards goals. The micro-wins will add up, giving you a feeling of accomplishment and a sense of agency, key ingredients for confidence.
- Surround yourself with encouraging people. Network with peers with similar goals so you can share advice and encourage each other. Find mentors, colleagues, and friends who will give you a pat on the back, encourage you in your endeavors, and give you constructive feedback to accelerate your growth and achievement.
- Prepare for bumps in the road. Setbacks will inevitably pop up as you learn and try new things. Prepare yourself, including having a plan of action when obstacles come up. In such instances, it’s easy to feel triggered. When your emotions are hijacked, it’s tough to think clearly or creatively. So it could be helpful to learn some emotional regulation hacks, like reappraisal, to manage your emotions. Knowing you’re equipped to handle the ups and downs of life and helps build self-trust and confidence.
- Help someone else. I’m not exactly sure why this builds confidence, but I’ve experienced it over and over. Use your strengths to help someone who needs it. You don’t have to do anything major. Listening well, asking good questions, and empathizing builds social connection and trust. This, in turn, generates self-esteem and agency.
I hope you try some of these steps out for yourself and see for yourself how your confidence grows. If you’re struggling with confidence, feel free to book a free 45 minute coaching consultation with me.
Recent Comments