Confidence, like many other desirable human qualities, is a skill that takes a little patience and time to master. Although some people can be born with confidence that knows no boundaries, many of us need a little boost to get our self-assurance to the ground. It is, however, an essential skill for any entrepreneur.
We all know someone who oozes confidence wherever they show up. There’s no need to be envious. You, too, can be confident with a little practice. So what can you do to establish or reinforce your confidence?
Acquire knowledge through experience
It may sound obvious, but knowledge is the key to confidence; the more you know, the more confident you’re going to feel. Be eager to learn, to be confident. “The best way to build confidence in a given area is to invest energy in it and work hard at it”.
Always, be open to receiving feedback or asking for support. Use the expression, “I don’t know, but I’ll find out,” to learn how to be confident.
Practice speaking out in public
If you feel nervous talking to others, don’t worry; you’re not alone. When you need to give an important presentation, brainstorm questions others might ask you, practice in front of the mirror, and take the time to prepare as thoroughly as possible. The first time you may not feel very sure in yourself, but gradually you will get there, becoming more self-confident each time.
Don’t be concerned about imperfection
You might assume that confident people know everything, and that to be like one of them, you also have to strive for perfection. Luckily, that’s not the case. Confident people know their limitations. No one can know everything even though they are considered experts on the topic. Whoever you are, there’s a chance that someone knows something you don’t know.
Live with confidence
One of the worst things you can do is look confident at a business meeting and then go back to your previous state of constant self-doubt. Let confidence become part of who you are. No magic formula is available for confidence, don’t look for shortcuts, hoping you can build confidence overnight. Move towards your target gradually: a life filled with confidence. “Self-confidence allows us to be fully involved in life.”
Set your mind to believe you are confident, square your shoulders, and watch your posture. Practice Amy Cuddy’s “power posing.” Simply aligning your body will make you feel confident right away.
There may not be an easy way to change the way we feel about ourselves, but the effort is definitely worth it. confidence will give you the requisite boost to believe in yourself and your abilities and free you from fear and self-doubt. Most significantly, the strongest, happiest, most strong version of yourself will be motivated by it.