| Self Confidence is a key part of success in | | | | yourself discounting your work, your abilities or |
| business. It is the difference between having faith | | | | any other aspect of yourself, tell yourself "Stop." |
| in yourself and feeling scared out of your wits. It | | | | This word is so ingrained into our psyche that it |
| is about having trust in what you know and your | | | | will momentarily freeze thought. Then replace the |
| abilities to handle the unexpected events that life | | | | thought with something that is positive and |
| puts in your path. It is also a belief that you are | | | | opposite of the interrupted thought. |
| the one in control of your life and your goals. It is | | | | The fifth ingredient to building confidence is to |
| that unexplainable and untouchable attribute that | | | | make an achievement list. Make yourself a list of |
| allows you get in touch with that inner self that | | | | everything you have accomplished no matter how |
| allows you to express yourself fully. | | | | small. We do not give ourselves enough credit for |
| The good news is that it is a trait that is | | | | all the things we do right. We could in any given |
| strengthened so do not give up if you do not feel | | | | day, do ten things right and still focus on the one |
| you have it at this time. In addition, self | | | | thing we have done wrong. Do not let yourself |
| confidence varies depending on whether you are | | | | get caught in this trap. It is a self-confidence killer. |
| doing something for the first time or it is | | | | When you find yourself fixating on an error, |
| something you know well. It can vary due to | | | | review you accomplishments. Then fix the error |
| environment as well. For example, some people | | | | and move one. Life is too short to spend it |
| are very confident in one on one presentation | | | | beating yourself up for the thing you didn't do |
| while others are confident in front of large groups | | | | right. Pick yourself up... and get going! |
| of people. It will not increase overnight but you | | | | Lastly, if you find a subject you need to know |
| can work to build it up to the level of your | | | | but have no confidence in then take a class, read |
| aspiration. | | | | a book or just find a forum and listen to those |
| The first step in building self confidence is giving | | | | chatting about it. Knowledge is power! There is no |
| you permission to not give up no matter what | | | | doubt that just knowing what others are speaking |
| the outcome. The key is, to do your best in any | | | | of will increase your confidence and social |
| given situation regardless of your knowledge or | | | | presence. When you do not feel left out, you |
| the end result. When this happens, then each small | | | | again, increase your confidence levels. In addition, |
| step of progress increases confidence. | | | | when you pursue knowledge on a subject to |
| The second key ingredient is to set achievable | | | | which you have a need or a passion, you gain the |
| goals. If you are doing something for the first | | | | experience of uniqueness which will also increase |
| time, give yourself goals to learn each small step. | | | | worth. |
| Do not expect perfection in your first attempt. | | | | Making the decision to work on building self |
| Progress and not perfection is the attitude that | | | | confidence could actually affect the success you |
| builds confidence. If you must be perfect in your | | | | find and achieve in life. It is an important decision. |
| own mind, then even the smallest error becomes | | | | It is important to be you. Whenever we are put |
| disastrous to confidence. | | | | in positions to pretend to be what we are not, |
| The smallest things can improve confidence. Add | | | | we risk our confidence levels. While there is some |
| a smile when you make a phone call and it will | | | | truth to the 'fake it till you make it' mentality, Life |
| show in your voice, increasing a positive response. | | | | is a much happier journey when you can be who |
| Straightening posture when meeting someone or | | | | you are and when you can be proud of the skills |
| giving a warm and confident handshake even if | | | | you have. It is about recognizing your strengths |
| you are trembling inside returns a positive | | | | and being able to truly understand that we all |
| response. When another person responds in a | | | | have areas of weakness. |
| positive manner, you comfort level increases. | | | | If you are an employer or a team leader, |
| The third ingredient to building up your confidence | | | | remember to recognize the smallest gains from |
| is based on your physical well being. When we eat | | | | those you supervise. A first sale, a new |
| right, sleep well and get exercise we then feel | | | | technique, a first presentation, these critical |
| better. That sense of physical well being comes | | | | moments can make or break those you work |
| out in our work, our voices and even our | | | | with. Recognize the strengths of an individual |
| presentations and productivity. These are all | | | | before you point out areas they may want to |
| factors to building up a sense of worth. Making | | | | focus on next. When your team feels confidence, |
| eye contact, a simple physical event, will actually | | | | then everyone wins. That is the cool thing about |
| convey confidence. So no matter how you feel | | | | self-confidence. The more it is felt the more there |
| inside, get those eyes up to those who you are | | | | is... it just keeps growing till you have a powerful |
| speaking too! | | | | team that is unstoppable. As a leader, you have |
| The fourth ingredient is to watch your own self | | | | nothing to lose in these little recognizable |
| talk. Many individuals erode their own self | | | | moments and everything to gain. Success and |
| confidence by the negative self talk and the | | | | Self-Confidence are intricately twisted about one |
| downplaying of recognition or compliments. | | | | another, never lose sight of it. |
| Monitor how you talk to yourself. If you find | | | | |