BOOSTING SELF-CONFIDENCE AT WORK

Everyone knows that competence is essential to workplace success, professional achievement and personal satisfaction. But without confidence, competence will only take you so far. And unfortunately, too many perfectly capable leaders lack confidence.

Building confidence does not require a complete personality overhaul. Instead, you can take smaller steps to become more self-assured and boost your confidence. Self-confidence is the difference between feeling unstoppable and feeling scared out of your wits. Your perception of yourself has an enormous impact on how others perceive you. Perception is reality and the more self-confidence you have, the more likely it is you will succeed. Feeling confident is like an investment: Once you believe in what you’re doing, others will too, and they’ll trust that the decisions you make are the right ones.

Although many of the factors affecting self-confidence are beyond our control, there are a number of things one can consciously do to help increase our self-confidence. The strategies enumerated below can get us the mental edge we need to start experiencing the benefits associated with greater self-confidence.

BUILDING A GREATER SENSE OF SELF CONFIDENCE REQUIRES

Focus on Appearance

Looking good can greatly increase your confidence. While you don’t need to drastically alter your appearance, simply taking a shower, shaving, putting on makeup and dressing nicely can help you feel ready to start that day. Again, this doesn’t mean you need to buy designer or expensive clothing, it just means dress for the situation (or even overdress a little) to help you feel special. Although clothes don’t make the man (or woman), they will certainly affect the way you feel about yourself. No one is more conscious of your physical appearance than you are. When you don’t feel like you look good, it changes the way you carry yourself and interact with other people. Use this to your advantage. If you dress in a way that makes you feel more confident, you will also carry yourself in a way that project greater self-confidence.

Another idea is to change up your style. If you’ve had the same hair colour for ages, try changing it (you can do it yourself at home). Try some new up-do’s. Even just changing your makeup routine (hello, red lipstick!) or your shoe choice can give you a little boost.

Walk Faster

One of the easiest ways to tell how a person feels about himself or herself is to watch how he/she walks. Walking depicts a person’s ability to carry himself/ herself in any kind of situation. People with self-confidence briskly walk and with a purpose. They have places to go, people to see, and important work to do. Even if you aren’t in a hurry, you can increase your sense of purpose and self-confidence by putting some energy in your step. Walking 25% faster will make to you look and feel more self-confident. Walking faster can improve your self-confidence in a variety of ways. It has been found by surveys that people who walk a little fast are seen as important. It gives the impression that they are busily involved in significant tasks. It’s is all about projecting a confident image for others to see.

Good Posture

The way you carry yourself tells a story. People with slumped shoulders and lethargic movements display a lack of self-confidence. They aren’t enthusiastic about what they’re doing and everyone around can tell. By practicing good posture, you’ll automatically feel greater self-confidence. Stand up straight, keep your head up, and make eye contact. You’ll make a positive impression on others and instantly feel more self-confident and empowered.

Personal Commercial

One of the best ways to build self-confidence is listening to a motivational speech. But this need can be filled by yourself through creating your very own personal commercial. A personal commercial ( also known as an elevator speech, personal introduction, 30-second commercial, etc.) is a quick, effective way to make an impressive introduction of self. Every individual will use his/ her personal commercial throughout his/ her professional life, including when introducing himself/ herself to a potential employer at a job fair, an interview, or anytime he/she is asked to introduce himself/ herself professionally.

So, a personal commercial is one of the hardest pieces of the branding process for people to feel comfortable with. It seems to contradict all the messages you hear about not bragging or tooting your own horn. Discovering how to introduce yourself the right way, though, can boost your self-esteem.

To be able to create an appealing personal commercial, write a very short inspiring message that highlights your strengths and goals. Then practice it in front of the mirror aloud. When you need a boost in self- confidence, recite your personal commercial to yourself in your head.

Gratitude

It’s easy to get fixated on the things you want rather than being thankful for what you already have. This often leads people to focus on their weaknesses as persons rather than their strengths. The best way to avoid this is consciously focusing on gratitude. Set aside time each day to do a gratitude review. Recall your past successes, unique skills, loving relationships, and positive experiences. You’ll be amazed how much you actually have going for you, and being grateful for these things will increase your sense of self confidence. Always remember to focus on the positive things in your life and that will help you rediscover your confidence in a real way.

Compliment other people

When we think negatively about ourselves, we often project that feeling on to others in the form of insults and gossip. To break this cycle of negativity, get in the habit of complimenting others for their qualities and skills. Refuse to engage in backstabbing gossip and make an effort to build up and encourage those around you. In the process, you’ll become well liked and your self-confidence will grow. By looking for the best in others, you indirectly bring out the best in yourself.

Sit in the front row

In schools, offices, and public assemblies around the world, people constantly strive to sit at the back of the room. Most people prefer the back because they’re afraid of being noticed. This reflects a lack of self-confidence. By choosing to sit in the front, you can get over this irrational fear and build your self- confidence. You’ll also be more visible to the important people talking from the front of the room and you won’t be easily distracted by things going on around you.

Speak up

During group discussions many people never speak up because they’re afraid that people will judge them for saying something stupid. This fear isn’t really justified. Generally, people are much more accepting than we imagine. In fact most people are dealing with the exact same fears. By making an effort to speak up at least once in every group discussion, you’ll develop your courage and you’ll display more self-confidence when expressing yourself in front of others.

Stay in shape

Physical fitness has a huge effect on self- confidence. It can burn off some of your pent up emotions. If you’re out of shape, you’ll feel insecure, unattractive, and less energetic. Going to the gym, joining a sports team or doing any sort of regular exercise can get your body in shape and improve your mental health. There is a direct link between your fitness level and your sense of self confidence. Getting in a rhythm of working out also creates positive momentum and something for you to build on. This positive momentum is carried into everything else in your life. The more you work out, the more you’ll want to work out. And you just might make some new friends while you’re at it.

Where meditation is all about internal and mental results, working out is all about the external, something you can see in the mirror as well as feel in your energy levels.

Focus on contribution

Too often we get caught up in our own goals and desires. We focus too much on ourselves and not enough on other people. If you stop thinking about yourself and concentrate on the contribution you’re making to the rest of the world, you won’t worry as much about you own flaws. This will increase your self- confidence and allow you to make a valuable contribution to the world around you. The more you focus on your contribution to the world the more recognition you will receive and the more self-confidence you will feel.

Think Positive

When it comes to self-confidence, your thoughts can be your best friends or your worst enemies. It’s important to remember that your emotions mirror your thoughts. So, if you are focusing on negative thoughts, you’re more likely to feel sad or angry. It is up to you to decide which thoughts are helpful, positive ones, and which are harmful. By discarding the negative thoughts, you will be able to focus on being productive and feeling confident.