Some people in certain jobs seem to have a natural disposition for self-confidence, although it’s not always evident in careers that you might think. Many famous actors have confessed to low self-esteem, and indeed, their performances are only possible because they’re pretending to be someone else – removing their own personality from the equation. Oscar winning actress Kate Winslet has been quoted as saying that she dreads starting a new movie and thinks, “I’m a fraud, and they’re going to fire me… I’m fat, I’m ugly.” If the so-called ‘beautiful people’ can suffer from crippling self esteem, then what can the rest of us do? CrazierLife – Building Self-confidence

Self-confidence can be acquired through a variety of means, and this is particularly relevant for successful advancement in the business world. Leadership requires a certain degree of self-confidence, and while business and political leaders might suffer from a lack of confidence at times, they don’t allow it to interfere with their duties- after all, it’s unlikely that Barack Obama cries himself to sleep at night because he thinks Vladimir Putin doesn’t like him. So how do you go about building self-confidence that allows you to succeed?
IS IT BEST FOR YOU?
Do you really want to be a boss? The path of promotion to management is seen as a logical step in career advancement, but the fact of the matter is that it’s not for everyone. You will have a greater degree of responsibility and accountability, and will also have greater control in the careers of those under you. Think about if you would be able to fire someone who has worked with you for years – it’s not an easy prospect right? Advancement in a career can also bring about greater risk, and if a company or department isn’t meeting their goals, it’s often viewed that a change of leadership is the best method to get things back on track.
LEARN AS MUCH AS YOU CAN AND START BUILDING SELF-CONFIDENCE
Knowledge is power as we all know, and by equipping yourself with as much knowledge as possible, you feel far more confident in making a decision or even offering an opinion.
“What you think of yourself is much more important than what people think of you.”
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You would presumably be knowledgeable about your chose field as a result of your education and work history, but you need to widen your search for knowledge and look at the overall structure of your company and industry, both in relation to your own company and its competitors. Building self-confidence is far easier when you have all the information at hand.
THE IMPORTANCE OF TRUST
A lot of self-confidence is a result of trust; both trust in your own abilities and those around you. An overt level of competiveness in a business environment can be shattering when it comes to confidence. While it’s unlikely that your colleagues would deliberately try to undermine you, it’s possible that when it comes to a coveted promotion in the office, they won’t be ‘singing your praises’. This is where trust in your own abilities becomes doubly important – if you believe in yourself, you’ll be able to convey this belief to your superiors through your actions, and it won’t matter what your colleagues think.
LEARNING FROM MISTAKES
We all make mistakes in life believe me I made a lot already, but it’s vital to view them as a learning experience, rather than something that crushes your soul. Your ability to solve problems and fix mistakes (even if you’re the one that made them) is something that’s prized. While it’s never a great idea to deliberately try and conceal a mistake in the business world, which could potentially be viewed as a form of deception; it’s always advisable to take a few moments and brainstorm solutions to any problems you might encounter. As you discover that you’re able to solve problems in an efficient and timely manner, your self-confidence is bound to grow.
DON’T WAIT
A lot of self-confidence comes from self-direction, and knowing your goals (and being confident in knowing that it’s what you want) can give you a sense a clarity that might have been lacking. Don’t always wait for direction in the workplace – initiative is a valuable trait.
“Don’t wait for things to happen. Go out and make them happen.
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Be careful about the limits of what is appropriate within the context of the situation, but a certain degree of self directed actions will be welcomed, demonstrating within a company or group that you know what you’re doing, and this positive feedback is invaluable for building self-confidence. Ideally, a large amount of self-confidence should be internal, and yet the external response to your actions and attitude is a large part of it.
Being confident in oneself isn’t as easy as it sounds, but your self-confidence can grow and grow with positive reinforcement, both through having confidence in your own abilities and seeing others positive reactions to what you can achieve.