Strategies to build self-confidence

Following the article on self-esteem, here is an article which develops the concept of self-confidence.

What is self-confidence?

Self-confidence relates to

  • to our feeling of competence,
  • to the belief in our ability
    • to face challenges,
    • to accomplish tasks
    • and succeed in specific activities.

It is a form of internal assurance that we feel about our abilities in concrete situations. For example, a musician may have great confidence in his ability to perform in a recital because of the work and practice he has put into his craft. This confidence is often contextual and can vary depending on the environment, past experiences and degree of mastery in a given area.

In summary, while self-confidence is often task or skill specific and can fluctuate, self-esteem is a general evaluation of oneself that remains relatively constant. An individual may lack self-confidence in a particular area while still maintaining high self-esteem. Conversely, he may excel in certain skills but have low self-esteem due to negative self-evaluation. The development of one often influences the other. By building confidence in our skills we can improve our self-esteem, and vice versa, healthy self-esteem can encourage us to take on new challenges, thereby increasing our self-confidence.

 

How to recognize lack of self-confidence? 

It often manifests itself as constant doubt about one’s abilities to accomplish specific tasks. People with low self-confidence may hesitate to take initiative or embark on new activities for fear of failure. They may need a lot of proof of their competence before they feel confident they can succeed. Likewise, they may be overly affected by criticism and take constructive feedback personally and negatively. This constant hesitation can prevent them from seizing opportunities for fear of not being good enough.

 

Strategies to build self-confidence

  • Practice of positive visualization

This exercise helps build self-confidence by vividly imagining success in specific situations. To practice it, find a quiet place where you will not be disturbed.

    • Close your eyes and breathe deeply several times to relax.
    • Visualize yourself successfully completing a task that is important to you. Imagine every detail as clearly as possible: the environment, the sounds, your actions, and the positive reactions of the people around you.
    • Focus on the feelings of competence and confidence you experience in this visualization.
    • Do this exercise regularly, especially before facing situations that usually make you anxious.
    • Set and Achieve Small Goals: Self-confidence is boosted by real evidence of success, no matter the size of the achievement.
  • Small goals

Set small, achievable goals that you are confident you can accomplish. For example, if you want to improve your communication skills, you could commit to striking up a small conversation with a coworker every day.

Each time you achieve one of these small goals, take a moment to celebrate your success. It can be as simple as keeping a success journal.

Accumulate these small victories to build a solid foundation of confidence in your abilities. As your confidence grows, set progressively more ambitious goals.

  • Power pose exercise 

Some research suggests that adopting poses that express confidence can actually influence our brain chemistry, increasing levels of testosterone (a hormone linked to confidence) and decreasing levels of cortisol (a hormone linked to stress).

    • Find a quiet place where you can stand without being disturbed.
    • Assume a “power pose” for two minutes.
      • This could be standing with your legs slightly apart and hands on your hips (like Superman), or sitting with your legs on a desk and your hands behind your head.
    • Hold this pose, breathe deeply and try to feel a sense of strength and power.
    • Practice this pose every day, especially before stressful situations or events where you need to feel confident.