At different phases of your career or business growth your confidence can change. When things are going well you feel on top of the world and like you can handle anything. It always feels harder to build that confidence. One little thing can bring you down and break that confidence.
When you’re working towards growth it’s never easy but oh so worth it! I’m sharing 10 ways you can help boost your confidence when you feel like it’s not there.
1. Dress for Success
This seems easy but makes a big impact – even when you’re working from home. It doesn’t mean you need to go full busines attire but get out of those sweats. Amy Lokken even mentioned on the Easy Style with Sami podcast that she wears her power heels when she’s on virtual calls or puts them on the desk so she can see them.
At a minimum, I have a quick and easy makeup routine that makes me feel more confident on camera when I’m taking calls. Creating little things in your day that make you feel good on the outside help to boost the confidence inside.
This is also something I do when I’m getting over being sick and back to work. 😂
2. Practice Positive Self-Talk
One of the best pieces of advice I got was to ask yourself, would you say the words you’re saying to yourself to your best friend? Be kind to yourself and that starts with how you talk to yourself.
When life gets stressful, and you feel your confidence breaking, have some words ready to go that you can use to reframe your mindset. Some of mine are:
I am good at what I do.
Do one thing you know will make an impact – just one!
My next best client is just around the corner.
I can do hard things.
Take it to the next level by creating affirmations you can say every day to help bolster your confidence. These can help you wherever you feel most lacking. Here are a few examples to get you started.
I am a powerful woman.
I am worthy.
I deserve success.
I trust myself and the decisions I make.
I have the power to create the life I desire.
I am deserving of self-care
Keep both sets of positive self-talk in a place where you can easily access them. Put your daily mantras on your mirror and say them out loud to yourself when you’re getting ready. Keep a sticky note with the others in your paper planner for easy reference.
3. Set Achievable Goals
When setting goals for yourself there are two ways I like to think about it. Set big picture goals for where I’m going, and then smaller goals that I can hit and celebrate.
Having smaller goals that you can achieve doesn’t mean you’re playing small, it just means you’re building confidence as you work towards your bigger goals.
The other element here is to celebrate your wins. Big wins are often celebrated, but don’t underestimate the little wins. Celebrate everything to help you keep that confidence rising.
4. Embrace Failure as Growth
Just like you are celebrating your wins, embrace your failure. As Lori Eich famously shared on the Easy Style with Sami podcast, nothing is a true failure if you learned from it, and you can learn from everything!
The other side to this is that if you aren’t experiencing some failure then you aren’t pushing the boundaries. Testing new ideas to see what works is how you’ll build and grow. Not all your ideas will work. How can you find the gems if you don’t experiment.
5. Cultivate a Supportive Circle
This one is critical to supporting you in hitting your goals. I like to have both a personal and professional circle to help me in the various areas I need a confidence boost in.
Weekly, I chat with two other colleagues that hve similar businesses to mine. We chat through our goals, hold each other accountable and support each other however we can.
Monthly, I’m in a business mastermind. We connect to support each other in strategies to help us move past where we’re stuck. We also share business resources to learn and grow.
I’m also in a direct sales specific mastermind where I’ve met other business owners that are growing. We share all sorts of strategies and what’s working in our business to help lift each other up.
At home, I have my husband and my family to help support me in the various elements of my businesses that I need. They are my cheerleaders helping me on days that are bigger struggles.
6. Practice Gratitude
Practicing gratitude goes hand-in-hand with embracing your wins. Daily, write down 5 things you’re grateful for. I like to do this in the morning from the day before to start my day off on a positive note. You could also do this at the end of the day before bed to remind you of the good things that happened.
Just like celebrating your wins, embrace the little things in your life that have happened. Sometimes it’s as simple as seeing a pretty bird in the yard or diving to the store and there wasn’t any traffic!
7. Step Out of Your Comfort Zone
Trying new things might make your confidence a little shaky at first. However, once you get through that experience it will give you a big boost. And just like embracing failure, you’ll have learned something that you can take forward for future experiences.
This could be going to a network event, calling that potential client you think is a long shot, asking your supervisor for a raise or a promotion. It could also be life experiences like taking a solo trip or going sky diving!
8. Focus on Strengths, Not Comparisons
This is a biggie for me personally and something I have to constantly remind myself. Imposter syndrome can stop you in your tracks from going after the next big thing.
You are running your own race, and doing it in your own way. When we compare ourselves to other people we are only taking into account what we see in front of us. We have no idea what they went through to get there.
Instead, think about what you’re best at. What is your zone of genius? What is your superpower? Focus on those and keep working towards your goals.
9. Engage in Physical Activities
Working out and moving your body help boost your confidence in so many ways. It makes you feel more comfortable with your body, it reduces stress, and it helps with energy.
Try and move your body 30 minutes a day. You can talk a walk on your lunch break or even walk in place while you’re watching your favorite TV show. Sometimes I’ll even take few extra passes up and down the stairs.
It’s even better if you can get a good sweat on. Go for a bike ride, a quick run, take a yoga class. The important thing is to do a form of exercise that you enjoy so you do it regularly.
10. Embrace Personal Development
Learning is growth. The beauty of personal development is that there is always something we can learn. As we get older, as our families shift can change, as we experience new things, we can learn new things to support ourselves.
Again, find a method that works for you. Audio books, podcasts, reading, taking classes, there is a huge variety of ways you can learn. Build it into your schedule so you prioritize it alongside other elements here on this list. You could even make it part of your regular get togethers with your supportive circle.
Conclusion
Putting some (or all) of these elements into your daily, weekly and monthly routine will help you build and maintain your confidence over time. It’s always a work in progress and at some point your confidence will be shaken. That’s ok and totally normal. It’s how you get back up that matters.