4 simple steps to boost your confidence

Have there been times when you were inspired by a speaker’s charismatic spirit or by a teammate’s self-confidence? You can be confident and inspire confidence in people around you too! It only takes some preparation and behavioural changes.

Lack of self-confidence can affect even the best leaders at times. Confidence is an effective trait that can help you when the going gets tough. But confidence isn’t just a trait; it’s a skill, and just like any other skill, it needs requires strenuous learning and practice. Whatever be the obstacles, confidence will give you the ability to face and overcome them without fear. When you are confident and believe in yourself, others will, too.

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Confidence is a mind-set that requires effort to maintain no matter the situation you’re in. Perhaps these steps can help you out:

Think positively, always

Negative thinking, especially negative self-talk, can terribly affect your self-confidence. Stay away from negativity and from people who have a negative influence on you. Think positively even if you don’t quite feel it. Instead of telling yourself that you can’t do something, look at the things you can do. Start focusing on finding solutions instead of brooding over your problems. Remember, positive energy results in positive outcomes. Smile and laugh more, and spend time in the company of happy people. You will see a hike in your self-confidence when you start making positive changes to your everyday life.

Instead of telling yourself that you can’t do something, look at the things you can do.

Analyse and change your body language

Slouching, avoiding eye contact and maintaining a bad posture indicate a lack of confidence. Pull your shoulders back to come across as a confident person. A simple act of smiling will make people around you more comfortable. When you talk to a person, don’t look at your shoes. Keeping eye contact while talking is a sign of confidence. Speaking clearly and slowly will also make you feel more confident. Be assertive, not aggressive.

Be prepared for the unknown

It’s common to feel less confident about stressful or new situations. Whether it’s a job interview or an upcoming presentation that is giving you the jitters, preparing for it will boost your confidence. When you are prepared, you will have the knowledge to overcome unexpected glitches that may come up. The more you prepare, the more confident you will be about your competency and expertise. However, avoid trying to accomplish everything at once. Break complicated tasks into small, bite-sized pieces which will make learning and preparing much easier. Patience and perseverance will take you a long way.

The more you prepare, the more confident you will be about your competency and expertise. However, avoid trying to accomplish everything at once.

Never give up

There will be situations where you feel you cannot keep up your confidence. When faced with life’s challenges, don’t give up. Take a moment to think about the good times. Make a list of things that you’re grateful for and the things you have achieved and accomplished. Put up this list in a place that you can easily see every day to remind yourself about how remarkable you are and how wonderful your life is. This will inspire you when you find your confidence dwindling and can help you find a solution to your problems. Succeeding through adversity is a confidence booster.

Staying inspired and thinking of the positive things in life in your mind can do wonders. All work and no play could hamper your confidence, too, so be sure to keep up with your hobbies and meet new people!