Career Marketing

Self-Confidence

Self-confident people radiate power and health. It is a skill you can practice. It is not egotism. It is knowing that you have the skills and knowledge to handle the position. you have applied for. It comes from feeling that you deserve to have and be what you want.

"While doubt stands still, confidence can erect a skyscraper" George Latimer.

Why self-confidence is so important.

It is a prerequisite to success and happiness since performance is based so often on attitude rather than aptitude. Confidence means taking a positive approach - "I will do this when I'm promoted", rather than "I could do this if I were promoted", otherwise doubts very easily creep into others' minds. People who are doing well achieve far more than those who are told they have problems. Doubts compromise your effectiveness, and self-doubts prevent you from marketing yourself effectively, or committing yourself wholeheartedly.

How to become more attractive

Self-confidence increases your attractiveness and, in turn, your effectiveness, as so much of what we do is done with or through other people. People prefer to work with someone with a positive, enthusiastic, 'can do' attitude. Accept yourself. Confidence gives you the resiliency to bounce back from failures. Lack of confidence, worry, self-doubting and scepticism repel people, and sap your energy, thus reducing your effectiveness, and so on in a downwards spiral.

Building self-confidence

Self-confidence can be developed, though it can be hard and lonely work. First work out why you lack confidence. Work out in which situations you are most and least confident. Write them down, with an action plan to improve the situation. The worst situations may be when you are with strangers, feel insufficiently well educated, you've over-extended yourself, when your parents expect too much, you get no feedback on your performance. Good situations may be when you feel well and well dressed, when you're with friends, get good feedback, accept yourself as you are. You may realise that your or your parent's expectations were unrealistic. Action plans may include improving your wardrobe, becoming more organised., asking your boss for feedback, learn about high achievers with low education, obtain more qualifications.

Set reasonable expectations. Know what you do well, starting with small things, and making a list. Please yourself, rather than forever trying to impress others. Look for small victories. Reward yourself, and include others in your celebration. Learn from mistakes; don't let them drag you down. Practice sounding confident; avoid 'but', 'maybe', 'if', I'm not sure'. Keep your head up and maintain eye contact. Initiate conversations. Prepare discussions, make a mental list of small-talk topics. Imitate self-confident people.