What do you do if you struggle with assertiveness and want to become more confident?

If you’re unsure how to increase your assertiveness, please consider the subconscious beliefs you hold that stop you from being great. Hypnotherapy can help you access these beliefs, often created in your past, and help you change them, so you can feel more confident and assertive! As a Certified Hypnotherapist trained by Marisa Peer, I’ve seen great breakthroughs. Remember, life is more than what you have been choosing! ????

To become more assertive and confident, I embarked on a personal journey of self-reflection. By uncovering my core values and understanding what truly mattered, I was able to set boundaries with those around me. I was able to do this by making a mental note (written ones are cool too) of boundaries that I really valued. Communicating these boundaries respectfully, while also creating a supportive environment, enabled me to grow both personally and in my relations with people. As a result, I found newfound confidence and assertiveness, leading to more fulfilling interactions and a stronger sense of self.

This is weirdly counter intuitive....it goes against how you might see the world. The answer for more confidence is....to stop looking for confidence Instead seek courage You see, confidence is never a pre requisite to doing anything. Confidence is the result of doing things that challenge our comfort zones Courage however is the willingness to continue taking 1 step forward at a time inspite of feeling nervous or uncertain To do things you don't necessarily feel like doing. Having difficult conversations The more courage you build by doing the uncomfortable, the more momentum you create. The more momentum you create in the uncomfortable, the more confidence you achieve. Courage comes first. You can do uncomfortable!

If you struggle with assertiveness and want to be more confident take small steps every day to build your confidence. Surround yourself with people that support your goal and get out of your comfort zone. Learn new skills to get your confidence up. Small steps to understanding your true potential will help you to be more assertive and confident in your abilities.

If you struggle with assertiveness and need to be more confident, you need to step back and self reflect. What are your fears and insecurities?What is holding you back and why? Are they things you can work on to become better and achieve what you want? If yes, what approach will you take? Is it through Self help books or a mentor or colleague or friend or counseling or therapy ? Once you figure this out, ask yourself if you are ready for positive feedback and criticism. If you are ready to be stretched outside your comfort zone, then find an accountability partner, someone who will be very honest and straight with you. Finally start on the ‘healing’ and self awareness journey become the best version of yourself then conquer the world!!!!

Confidence is a multifaceted skill. As an Olympian turned executive high performance coach, I've learned the power of body language in projecting confidence. Confidence is key to performance. Before you even speak, your posture, eye contact, and gestures convey volumes. Practice maintaining eye contact, standing tall, using a confident voice tone/speed and engaging gestures to signal confidence and engagement. Non-verbal cues shape others' perceptions and also influence your internal state.As you adopt a posture of self-assurance, you begin to feel more assertive/confident, creating a positive feedback loop. When you're at your best, confidence feels like a harmonious alignment of body and mind, projecting confidence without uttering a word

Non-verbal cues, such as eye contact, posture, and gestures, convey confidence even before you speak. Practice maintaining eye contact, standing tall, and using engaging gestures to project assurance. These cues influence others' perceptions and boost self-confidence. Adopting a confident posture internally reinforces assertiveness. As you exude confidence outwardly, you'll start to feel more assured internally—a positive feedback loop.

Posture, bidy language all important. The real issue is where the fear of being assertive comes from. Are you afraid of being reprimanded and therefore could confrontation be an underlying problem.If you have experienced a lit of aggressive or confrontational behaviour which was intimidating and had a negative outcome may end prevent you from speaking up or giving a valuable opinion. Clear the psychological association with confrontation and reframe so someone who is confrontational is also coming from a place if fear which could mean your opinion is valuable and threatens thier opinion. In other words your words carry greater weight and benefit.

The power of body language has been known to be key in communication for a long time. Complementing this with vocal exercises can amplify your assertiveness even further. Practising how you speak—focusing on the tone, pace, and clarity of your voice—can significantly affect how assertively you communicate. These vocal elements can reinforce your body language, ensuring that your spoken message conveys the same confidence as your physical presence. Together, they create a holistic approach to self-assurance, boosting your internal confidence and how others perceive you.

Pay attention to your body language, as it can convey confidence or insecurity. Stand tall, make eye contact, and use gestures that support your message. Practicing power poses can also help boost your confidence.

Practising speaking up is key; integrating visualisation techniques can further enhance your assertiveness. Before entering a situation where you need to assert yourself, take a moment to visualise the interaction. Imagine expressing your thoughts clearly and confidently. Visualise the positive responses of others as you speak. This mental rehearsal can build your confidence, reduce anxiety, and prepare you mentally to handle real-life situations more effectively. It's not just about finding your voice but also about anticipating success with it.

Practice speaking up whenever you have an opportunity. Preparation will help your confidence. Prepare some talking points prior to meetings. Write out questions for presenters. Outline your speaking points when presenting and practice in advance. The more you take advantage of opportunities to speak, the more comfortable and assertive you will become.

Practice expressing your thoughts and opinions in a clear and assertive manner. Start small by speaking up in low-stakes situations and gradually work your way up to more challenging ones. Remember to use "I" statements to express your thoughts and feelings without blaming others.

Setting boundaries is essential for assertiveness. To complement this, practising assertive communication in a structured environment, such as a workshop or training session, can also build your confidence. These settings provide a safe space to learn and apply new skills without the immediate pressures of everyday interactions. They offer a chance to receive constructive feedback, see others modelling assertive behaviour, and gradually build up your ability to maintain your boundaries effectively in more spontaneous situations.

Learn to set clear boundaries with others to protect your time, energy, and well-being. Communicate your boundaries assertively but respectfully, and be consistent in enforcing them.

In my opinion improving active listening not only enhances your ability to connect with others but also plays a crucial role in developing confidence. By being genuinely present in conversations and showing a sincere interest in others’ perspectives, you demonstrate a sense of confidence in yourself and your ability to engage meaningfully with those around you. Quieting your inner chatter and focusing on the speaker’s words instead of planning your response or succumbing to distractions reflects a self-assuredness that you value what the other person has to say. This willingness to suspend judgment and truly listen fosters an environment of trust and respect, which in turn bolsters your confidence in your interpersonal skills.

I always stress the importance of listening when building assertiveness. By actively listening, you're respecting others' viewpoints and paving the way for mutual understanding. This foundation makes it easier to express your thoughts respectfully and effectively. Another angle to consider is practice. Like any skill, assertiveness grows stronger with practice. Start with small, manageable situations where you can express your thoughts or needs. Over time, this practice builds your confidence, making it easier to handle more challenging interactions. Remember, assertiveness is a skill, not an innate trait, and can be developed consistently.

Assertiveness also involves listening to others and respecting their perspectives. Practice active listening skills, such as paraphrasing and summarizing what others say, to demonstrate that you value their input.

Assertiveness involves not only expressing yourself but also being an attentive listener. Active listening demonstrates respect for others' opinions, fostering productive interactions. Understanding diverse perspectives enables you to communicate your views thoughtfully and effectively. Remember, assertiveness entails both speaking and listening openly, promoting balanced communication.

To become truly assertive in your attitude and response to how others treat you will begin with the quality of the relationship you have with yourself. Respect yourself and others will follow. Developing higher self esteem is the core to embracing your strengths and become comfortable with what you are not good at. This builds confidence and assertiveness will follow. You make the change first. X Florence Gray Nightingale couple counsellor and coach

Maintaining a positive outlook is essential when building assertiveness and confidence. Acknowledge even small progress and practice patience. Change takes time, but with consistent effort, improvement is achievable. Use positive affirmations and seek support from those who believe in your growth. Your mindset plays a crucial role in your journey toward greater assertiveness and confidence.

Maintaining a positive outlook is crucial for developing assertiveness and confidence. Acknowledge even small progress and practice patience. Change takes time, but with consistent effort, improvement is achievable. Use positive affirmations and seek support from those who believe in your growth. Your mindset is instrumental in becoming more assertive and confident.

Cultivate a positive mindset and believe in yourself and your abilities. Challenge negative self-talk and replace it with affirmations and encouragement. Celebrate your successes, no matter how small, and learn from any setbacks.

Feeling nervous in challenging situations and feeling low in confidence is quite obvious in such situations. In my opinion staying positive is a key which helps us think through to understand the situation well and come up with alternative solutions. In most of the cases trying something for first time creates nervousness however as we start taking possible actions we start getting control, boosting our confidence.

STEP 1: Work on your self-awareness - Be clear about what you do well, what motivates and satisfies you, and which people and situations are your triggers. STEP 2: Practise self-management - Manage your emotional reactions to situations and people by becoming more and more aware of your emotions. This helps you to stay flexible and directs your behavior positively. STEP 3: Build your ability to pick up on emotions in other people, more and more accurately, and try to understand what is going on with them. Listening and observing are key practices here. STEP 4: Your ability to use awareness of your own emotions and those of others will help you manage your interactions successfully and build long-lasting relationships at work.

Une chose qui peut énormément aider à développer son assertivité est de se poser fréquemment la question : "si je m'aimais vraiment, comment est-ce que j'agirais différemment ?"

Begin to cultivate self trust. When you know who you are, what you stand for and what direction you want your life and career to go in, it becomes easier to stay grounded in your worth and speak up for what you believe is the next best step for you and your goals. Self trust is a combination of staying true to your word, especially the promises you make regarding your own self care, physical health (ie exercise commitments etc) and mental health (such as knowing your values and sticking to your boundaries). Cultivating self trust also involves looking at your internal dialog and seeing what parts are keeping you separate from your goals. This combination is a surefire way to build the bridge towards higher levels of confidence.

According to me, mitigating a nervous delivery of your speech is paramount. Take a deep breath, then speak slowly and clearly. This will help you sound confident. In spite of knowing what you’re talking about, you may not FEEL confident but, when you SOUND confident, the listener will give you more attention. This attention then works as a positive feedback to your mind, ultimately boosting your real confidence.