This is a series that I have wanted to write for a very long time. When I start working with my clients we establish goals for our coaching, sometimes these are very tangible like “achieve a promotion in six months” and some are more abstract like “feel more confident”. I have been learning about and working with my clients to build confidence for more than twenty years and have learned three key things about confidence. To build confidence you need to know:
Confidence is a skill that you can develop
Confidence looks different for each person
Small shifts in behaviour can increase your confidence
Confidence is a complex concept, the key to unpacking is to explore what it means and looks like for you personally.
In this three-part series, you will learn all about confidence:
What it is and what it can look like in action
Why it’s important for your career success
One game-changing habit to boost your confidence
Confidence is one of the most important skills you can develop. It affects you in every area of your life; from how you are perceived by yourself and others, to your overall health and wellbeing. Navigating your way through life with confidence will make a significant, positive difference in your daily experiences.
Confidence is a person’s belief and trust in their abilities to successfully complete tasks and goals. It is formed through internal, automatic judgments and perceptions towards past experiences - especially successes and failures in past performance. For example, receiving positive feedback on a project from your boss, or making mistakes and stumbling during a presentation - both these experiences can shape your confidence in some way.
Although confidence may seem to come naturally for some people, it is still a skill that can be built and improved by everyone.
*Here is what confidence can look like:
Genuine - You have the ability to express yourself authentically and represent what is important to you. This includes setting healthy boundaries with others.
Positive - Having a positive attitude enables you to cope better with the challenges of life.
Eager to Learn - Rather than becoming complacent, you are always open to learning more and growing your knowledge.
Open to Feedback - Whether it’s positive or negative, you are able to accept feedback and use it to improve yourself and your work.
Takes Risks - You are unafraid to step out of your comfort zone and take on new challenges.
Able to Laugh at Self - You are comfortable enough in your skin to reveal your vulnerabilities and laugh at yourself.
Learns from Failures and Mistakes - You can look back on your past experiences, including ones where mistakes were made, and use them to adjust your future behaviour.
Takes Ownership - Regardless of the outcome, you take full responsibility for your work.
Takes Pride in Accomplishments - You see the value in the work you do and believe in your ability to be successful.
Able to Make Decisions Without Difficulty - You don’t often doubt or second guess yourself after making decisions.
*Adapted from: www.mindremakeprogect.org/tag/self-confidence/
The key to building your confidence is identifying which of these ten traits you want to cultivate. Start with picking one of these behaviours and identify two ways you can explore it in your day-to-day life and work.
In part two of this series, we will talk about why confidence is important for career success!
If you’re ready to cultivate your own kind of confidence, book a complimentary coaching session and get a headstart with a little help from yours truly!