Life’s battles don’t always go to the brightest person but sooner or later the person who wins is the one who thinks they can.

         Hard work, belief, and stubbornness usually comes out on top – inhale confidence, exhale doubt.

         Building up your confidence and your self-belief is a gradual process that involves how you think, behave, and interact with others. 

         To build your self-esteem seize any sensible opportunity – be ambitious!

         You are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think.

         Some people are self motivated; others are motivated by set-backs and become determined, and stubborn enough to succeed.

A Handful of tips to build your confidence and self-belief

* Positive thinking

Set yourself some achievable goals.

Never decline a job because you are not sure if you can do it -how will you know until you try?

* Learn new skills

Continually upgrade your skills and learn new ones, especially communication skills, such as public speaking.

         Perform in public by joining a debating or Toastmasters club, a drama group, or a choir.

         Study, attend summer schools, or take night classes.

         Internet study courses are well worthwhile to build confidence and to learn new skills at a pace that suits you. 

* Try new things

         Join clubs or worthwhile voluntary organisations.

You can gain new skills outside your work by taking on responsibilities in social, service organisations, or in sports clubs.

         Make an effort to meet new people and chat to them. Ask them leading questions, such as “Where did you grow up?” ; “Where did you go to school?”, and so on. It will help build your confidence.

* Master meeting skills

         Learn the rules and the skills on how to conduct  meetings.  This will help enhance your abilities in the eyes of your colleagues and improve your confidence.  

         All organisations have annual meetings and use some form of meeting procedures with secretaries, minute-takers, chairman etc.

* Explore

Travelling will help build your confidence because you will be challenged into all sorts of unusual situations.

         Attend international events and maintain online contacts with interesting people you meet.  Seek helpful mentors.

         You will see the world through new eyes and gain confidence to cope with unusual events.

         As your confidence increases your competence increases. Self confidence is contagious and other will benefit from you.

         If you have done your homework, are confident of your judgement and the issue is important enough, stand your ground.

Geoffrey Moss(mossassociates.co.nz)

“If you have confidence in yourself, others will too.”

SOURCE: “Secrets for Success. This book could change your life”. First published by Moss Associates Ltd, New Zealand and by Cengage Learning Asia. Also available as an e-book from Amazon.com.