In today’s world, confidence is one of the attributes that can carry you far and that is what will help push you to many levels. Building confidence is a gradual process that requires consistent effort and self-awareness and as such, we must thrive to build ourselves, our children and those under our care to be nothing but confident.
In our African societies, a calm quiet person is deemed respectful or a good person but in hindsight, too much of that turns out to be bad for the person and the people they find themselves with later on in life. You may be deemed a boring person and not an interesting person to be with. Being on your phone because you could not contribute to the discussion doesn’t speak well of you as some people sees such behaviors as disrespectful when in retrospection the person might be shy or uncomfortable.
When I immigrated abroad and started my first job as an associate scientist, the highly opinionated lady that I was suddenly became quiet mainly due to the sudden change of culture.
I found myself in the midst of different races and a handful of people who looked like me. On top of this, I had a thick accent that received an excuse me? Sorry? Say that again anytime I spoke which saw me repeating myself when I participated in any discussions.
With all these going on and adjusting to a new country, culture, and a totally different work environment, I found my confidence been wiped out gradually.
This hindered my promotion and job growth as a promotion passed me by, mainly because they thought I was too reserved to be in any higher role. That was when I realized that, I needed to build my confidence back!
Here are some of the ways I used in building my confidence back, maintaining it and boasting me to higher roles and climbing the corporate ladder. Today, I am a renowned research scientist working at my own schedules in a reputable organization and a small business owner on the side. My confidence has made it possible to also own and operate this beautiful site you are reading.
So it’s never too late to learn anything especially when it comes to your personal growth and building. Here are some steps to help you build and strengthen your confidence:
- Learn to Upgrade Yourself
Knowledge is the key to success. By gaining knowledge and having a strong command of what you do, makes you confident. So if there is an aspect of your job you don’t understand, you probably should find a way to educate yourself to build your confidence.
Acquiring new knowledge or skills gives you a sense of accomplishment and broadens your capabilities. When you feel more competent, your confidence naturally grows. Building your confidence in a space requires you gain a little bit of knowledge of where you are.
- Face Your Fears Gradually
Push yourself outside your comfort zone in small steps. Each time you face a fear or challenge, your confidence will grow. Start small and gradually increase the difficulty of the tasks you tackle. If you are shy and unable to start new conversations, start small. I started initiating and responding to small talks by talking about the weather, the traffic situation during the morning or any event happening at work and if they would be attending. Gradually you will find out more about the person and have more to talk about. The next time you meet them again, you talk about their weekend or their lunch or what they are working on. You may find out that, you even have more to talk to the person about. Maybe you both have kids the same age and a life time of friendship is born.
- Surround Yourself with Positive People
The people around you have a significant impact on your confidence. Surround yourself with supportive, positive individuals who uplift and encourage you.
- Set Small, Achievable Goals
Start by setting small, realistic goals that you can accomplish easily. Achieving these goals will give you a sense of accomplishment and build momentum for tackling bigger challenges. You can also help yourself by learning to visualize Success. Visualization is a powerful tool. Imagine yourself succeeding in different scenarios, whether it’s speaking in public, acing a test, or handling a difficult situation. This practice can enhance your self-belief.
- Improve Your Body Language
Good posture and confident body language can make a big difference in how you feel about yourself. Stand tall, make eye contact, and use open gestures. This can improve your sense of self-worth and make you appear more confident to others.
- Practice Self-Care
Taking care of your physical and mental health is essential for building confidence. Exercise regularly, eat well, get enough sleep, and engage in activities that reduce stress and increase your well-being. You must put some thoughts into how you dress up too depending on what you do and where you are. Your outfits will increase your confidence greatly.
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- Prepare and Practice
Whether it’s a presentation, interview, or any situation where you want to perform well, preparation is key. Practice helps reduce anxiety and increases your belief in your abilities. In my role as a Quality control supervisor, we tend to hire the candidate that had confidence in their responses. No one is interested in someone who second guess themselves and who is weak in their responses.
- Celebrate Your Progress
Acknowledge and celebrate your achievements, no matter how small. Celebrating progress helps reinforce positive feelings and reminds you that you’re on the right track. Once I built on my confidence, I become the most lovable person at work and people loved to hung out with me. They loved to join me for lunch and planned lunch times beyond the office cafeteria
- Accept Compliments Gracefully
Don’t dismiss compliments when people offer them. Accept them with gratitude and recognize that you deserve them. This helps reinforce positive self-perception. I know a lot of people who always ask if you actually meant your compliment or if you are sure to a point where they try to do something else to whatever you are complimenting them on.
Building confidence takes time, but by consistently taking these steps, you can gradually shift your mindset and become more self-assured. Remember, confidence is not about being perfect. It’s all about creating a solid foundation of self-acceptance, self-belief, and consistent action. It’s about believing in your ability to handle whatever comes your way.
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