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85% of people report struggling with confidence at some point.
That number rises among diverse professionals, such as women, minorities, LGBTQ+, etc…
Here are 7 ways to increase your confidence, right now.
"Self-confidence can be learned, practiced, and mastered - just like any other skill. Once you master it, everything in your life will change for the better."
1/ Use Strengths As Evidence, Not Experience
Experience can help build confidence, but it’s not required. When you’re diving into something new and lack experience, instead focus on your transferrable skills and natural strengths. This reminds you that you’re not starting from scratch.
Not sure what they are? Your ability to learn is a good one to start. So is problem-solving. Ask a friend or family member
Trust in your own capability.
2/ Ditch “All Or Nothing”
It’s common to think you are either confident, or you are not. But confidence isn’t only at 0 or 100% – it exists on a scale.
And the good news is… if you check in with yourself, you’re never actually at 0%. (Especially if you do #1 above).
This exercise in itself increases your confidence from “not having any”.
3/ Keep A Brave Book
Inspire yourself… with you.
Keep a Brave Book – a list of actions you took and accomplishments you achieved, even when you lacked confidence. Remind yourself, you don’t have to have 100% confidence to do great things… you have evidence in your own experience.
This builds confidence in your ability to overcome tough and uncertain situations.
4/ Model Others
Even if you’ve never done something before… chances are someone has. Look for people that are successful in what you’re trying to do. What did they do?
“Success leaves clues.” – Jim Rohn
This gives you a blueprint and a foundation to start from… confidence that you are on the right track.
5/ Surround Yourself With Supportive People
Your “fans” – friends, family, mentors – provide you with encouragement and belief in your potential. They can often see things in you, that you cannot.
Sometimes you need to borrow someone else’s belief in you before you can hold it on your own. And that’s ok.
Even the most confident people start here.
6/ Take Action
You might think confidence is the result of success… but in reality, it’s the result of taking action in the first place. Every action can result in things working… or not working. But even failure can lead to improved confidence. How?
–> If you are willing got take what you see as a failure as something you learned.
“I tried and now I know how not to do it.” This leads you forward, building confidence that you are progressing.
7/ Listen To Other People’s Stories
When you hear other people tell of their journey – your brain can “see” that it’s possible for you too. You confirm – you are not alone in feeling this way.
And hearing someone’s story activates the brain to imagine positive scenarios, which helps override its natural negativity bias.
It’s important to see yourself succeeding in your mind, to give you the confidence in tackling your goal.
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There you have it.
Confidence isn’t something that “just shows up”.
It’s something you can deliberately build & strengthen.
Be brave.
Be humble.
Be true to you.
“Self-confidence can be learned, practiced, and mastered – just like any other skill. Once you master it, everything in your life will change for the better.”
– Barrie Davenport
Personal coach and author
