How can you work to improve your confidence?

Get in the right position

Chances are, given your confidence level, you already know how to carry yourself pretty well in meetings and in public. But there’s always room for improvement. Build up your confidence by practicing power positions. Sitting up straight will give you a short-term confidence boost. Try nodding your head while speaking. You’ll be sending a subconscious signal that makes others agree with you.

Don’t fake it ’til you make it

Attempt this bit of pop psychology at your peril. Originally, an observation made by Aristotle: “Men acquire a particular quality by constantly acting a certain way,” the modern version has become tainted by its suggested swagger, and if performed in that fashion, can easily go wrong. Confidence isn’t about pretending, or putting on an act; it springs from genuine accomplishment and work. Not only does faking it not work as a confidence booster, but it almost certainly makes us feel less secure, because knowingly masquerading as something we’re not makes us anxious. 

Fail fast

Failing fast allows for constant adjustment, testing, and quick movement toward what will actually work. The beauty is that when you fail fast, or early, you have a lot less to lose. Usually you are failing small, rather than spectacularly. And you have a lot to gain from learning as you fail. Failing fast is the cornerstone of what women need to do to build modern confidence. And it’s an especially useful paradigm for women who have some confidence, but want to raise their confidence to the next level. We’ll be taking action, instead of analyzing every possible nook and crevice of a potential plan. Think about failing as part of success, as part of good leadership.

Thank you for participating in The Confidence Code Assessment!

You are now part of one of the first research studies related to women and confidence and we’re excited to work together to gather insight that will help women around the world embrace confidence in their lives.