How do you build confidence? Often the stumbling block to achieving our goals is lack of self-confidence. Not having confidence can limit a person’s potential, career choices and progression.
Confidence is the foundation for everything in life and it is our confidence, or lack of, that directly affects HOW we do everything in life.
Ironically confidence is in the mind. When people aren’t confident they believe they can’t achieve their dream business/ job.
Lack of confidence is often based on very self-critical thinking, fear of failure or from not having developed yet the right skills but expecting to have them.
Self-confidence is something we are born with – and we can rebuild by evaluating our experiences in a more positive light, looking at past experiences as an opportunity to learn or at skills as something we just haven’t accomplished yet. One way of building confidence is by changing our mindset from thinking, “we can’t do something” to “we can’t do something yet.” What we think about ourselves often appears to be fact, something we can’t actually do anything about, but these are just opinions. They are based on how we interpreted experiences and therefore shaped beliefs about ourselves. If these experiences have been experienced as negative, the chances are that our beliefs about ourselves will be negative too, which affects our self-confidence.
Negative beliefs affect how people see their current reality and how they ultimately progress in their business and life. It can limit possibilities and stop them from achieving their potential.
For example, if someone gets praised for doing a good job, people who are confident will accept the compliments, but those who lack confidence may start wondering if the person really meant it and start to worry that they could do better.
Here are some tips on building your confidence: Change your mind-set
Focus on the positive and things you have done well not the negative. Write down one positive achievement every day, no matter how small and you will be surprised what you have achieved in a week. If things haven’t gone to plan take it as an opportunity to learn from the mistakes. No one ever gets anywhere without making a few mistakes along the way.
Don’t be afraid to fail
Many entrepreneurs have failed during their working lives and gone on to achieve great things. Think about Richard Branson. He has launched close to 100 companies, many of which have failed. No one remembers these, most of us remember only the successes.
Ask people you respect what they think are your greatest strengths – and then find ways to use those strengths more often. Be clear about your strengths and incorporate these into your work every day.
Instead of thinking “I can’t” – change to “I can’t yet”- Make this your affirmation and say it to yourself every day
Challenge yourself to try something new
Hire a coach- they usually are challenging but supportive
Find tasks that give you an opportunity to use your strengths.
Fear of failure often stops us doing things, turn this on its head and make a commitment to do at least one thing you fear every month. This could be making a presentation, attending a networking alone or learning a new business skill.
Easier said than done, you might be thinking! If that’s you, schedule a time for us to chat (no obligation!). Maybe I can help you be more confident.
Would you like some help?
I am always happy to hear from you so if you have any queries or would like a free 30-minute telephone consultation, please complete the form on my website, and I will get back to you within 24 hours.
