Building Confidence in Business

In order to succeed in business, you need to have confidence – not just in your goals and objectives but in yourself.  Sometimes stressors get in the way of having confidence but you have to learn to overcome them.  If not, they’ll become unbearable.  Lack of confidence makes it harder to exercise independent decision-making or take appropriate ownership of tasks and duties.  While in a typical corporate 9-5 job, this can lead to the inability to get raises or promotions, in your own business this can mean the difference between success and failure.  Very few people succeed in business without a degree of confidence.  While some days you’ll be unsure of your abilities, this doesn’t mean they have to hold you back.  Confidence can lead to security which in turn leads to better performance.  “Overcoming self-doubt starts with honestly assessing your abilities (and your shortcomings) and then getting comfortable enough to capitalize on (or correct) them.”  So how to make sure you project confidence in business?

First off, preparation is key.  Prepare for your work environment by analyzing the skills that are necessary to do your job effectively.  Identify competencies you’ll need to get your job done so that you can better serve clients and customers alike.  If you feel you don’t possess a certain skill set or are lacking in a certain area, take steps to develop those skills.  Find training through a class or direction through a mentor.  Commit yourself every day to developing yourself and your abilities.

Identify your strengths and weaknesses.  Take inventory of both and try to improve upon them.  “Knowing how your character and abilities can positively affect your work setting will increase your confidence level.”  Recognize areas where you feel you are a superior performer and capitalize on them.  Additionally, recognize areas in which you are lacking and evaluate them so that you can start to add value to your work.

Set both long- and short-term goals for yourself that are both reasonable and achievable.  Celebrate your wins along the way.  Sometimes it’s best to start out small.  If you feel overwhelmed that you need to make 50 sales calls in a week, make 10 a day.  Taking small portions of an overall overwhelming goal can make getting there that much more manageable.  Reward yourself for your success or in essence, give yourself that proverbial “pat on the back” when you achieve your goals.  This will lead to an increase in confidence and move you all the more closer to success in the long run.

Manage your environment by controlling internal and external input.  You need to realize that sometimes there will be negative people or detractors that you’ll meet in business.  Try to avoid listening to them.  “Recognize that their negativity is not a reflection of your value but instead is a representation of their lack of understanding.”  Oftentimes, the poor attitudes of others result from their own failures.  Remind yourself that you add value through your work and that your services are needed and wanted by clients and customers alike.

Be prepared.  As the old saying goes: “Practice makes perfect.”  While this might seem trite, it’s true.  The best way to build confidence in your business abilities is to invest positive energy into them.  Don’t give up or throw in the towel when things get difficult.  Remind yourself that it takes time to build confidence but that if you keep trying, you’ll get there.  “Deliberate practice will almost always trump natural aptitude.”

Get out of your own way.  Confident people are willing to admit that they don’t have all the answers at all times.  Recognize the times you need help and be willing to accept it.  You should always be willing to learn and grow in your business endeavors.  Accept guidance and support when it’s offered.  

Ask colleagues or mentors for feedback when you need it.  While you don’t want to rely solely on others, looking to them doesn’t mean a lack of confidence.  In fact, it will often lead to building confidence.  Validation can be key when you’re looking to build your confidence.  Ask people that will be truthful; don’t just surround yourself with “yes men.”  It’s also OK to ask for a pep talk once in a while.  Do whatever it takes to build that confidence that will lead on to success.

Lastly, try taking risks when you can.  If you fail, so what?  The point is: You can pick yourself back up from failure and in turn, try again, succeed and build confidence that way.  While it’s always good to fall back on your known strengths, don’t hesitate to take on new challenges.  Most people don’t know what they’re truly capable of until they’re tested.  So allow yourself to face difficult situations and learn from them by taking away the positives from said situations.  Obviously, this is often easier said than done but by taking a leap of faith with stressors, you can build up your abilities which in turn leads to building up your confidence.

Remember, building up confidence takes time so don’t get down on yourself if it doesn’t happen overnight.  Be honest with yourself about what you know and also what you still need to learn.  Embrace new opportunities even if they are daunting.  Don’t focus excessively on the abilities you don’t have.  Instead, work hard to improve them.  If you follow these guidelines, confidence will follow and confidence most always leads on to business success!

Here are some articles you might want to check out about building confidence in business:

“10 Ways to Be More Confident at Work”: http://www.forbes.com/sites/jacquelynsmith/2013/03/05/10-ways-to-be-more-confident-at-work/

“What Self-confidence Can Mean to Your Business”: http://www.blogtrepreneur.com/2010/11/17/what-self-confidence-can-mean-to-your-business/

“How to Improve Your Self-confidence in Business”: http://www.essortment.com/improve-self-confidence-business-35762.html

Until next time…