Building Confidence to Take Risks.

Confidence affects all areas of our lives, such as careers, relationships, and health.?

By building healthy confidence, I believe we are able to set and achieve our goals, adapt to setbacks, learn from our mistakes, and what is most important, is that is gives us the courage to take risks.?

I say ‘healthy’ confidence because I believe we don't want to lack confidence but we also don't want to be overconfident. Overconfidence can sometimes lead us to make poor decisions and take unnecessary risk.

A healthy level of confidence, however, will help you get outside your comfort zone, and allow you to achieve bigger goals, whilst fueling your desire to achieve more and potentially take risks.

What we learnt in my ‘How to Reimagine Your Career Masterclass’ last week was this:?

When you grow in confidence you will take more action and you can also explore your appetite for risk and action.?Without confidence and self belief, risk becomes more difficult, the ability to take action shrinks.

A client said to me recently 'I wish I has taken more risks in life'?

It saddened me to hear, but I became more determined to show that person the possibilities they have in front of them with the number of years they have left if they grow in confidence.?

So how do we build ‘healthy’ confidence??

Identify your strengths and build on them.

One of the best ways to build confidence is to get clear on your strengths. Knowing your strengths gives you an inner belief when in those situations. So if teamwork is a key strength you will naturally feel comfortable in that environment and thrive.?

When supporting people with career pivots and change we often look at strengths to build confidence for what's ahead of us.?It works.

If you’re a little out of practice when it comes to recognising your strengths, ask trusted friends or colleagues what they think your strengths are. And if that doesnt feel right for you you, you can take an online test like the?VIA character survey?here, which is designed to identify and highlight the things you’re good at.It takes 10 to 15 minutes to complete.

Believe in yourself.?

This is one of those that is easier said than done, but there are many ways to grow that belief. Positive Psychology interventions including daily affirmations, visualisations and journaling are effective and powerful ways to ‘believe in yourself'.

Documenting what you've already achieved in life and your career, what you've overcome and how you've made things happen for yourself can boost your confidence.?

Fully knowing and understanding when and how you've been successful at various points in your career is a natural confidence booster and something I wholeheartedly subscribe to through journaling.

Consider ‘how to react to your boss and colleagues words and actions’.

This is important because the most common reason that we lose confidence is simply because of a bad relationship with our colleagues and boss. That insecurity will last as long as the relationship is strained.

We are all human and words and actions can affect your self-confidence. We all seek validation from the tribe around us and we have done since being hunter-gatherers in groups.?

The best way to gain confidence is to elevate your emotional radar.

Read through their actions and be aware not to let things get to you. This will empower you. Remember, no one can really knock your confidence, except you.

Realising that they are just like you and have their own fears and insecurities will empower you further to realise it's not about you. You can then adjust your beliefs accordingly and you will naturally grow in confidence.?

It was Christina Grimmie the American singer who said

"Confidence is not 'They will like me'.?Confidence instead is 'I'll be fine if they don't'."

Be a role model of positive attitude.?

Sounds simple and straightforward, but having a real positive attitude in any given work environment or situation supports confidence. The two go hand in hand.

Remember positive attitudes, don't always mean being happy.?It can mean focus and an inner belief that things can be better, and problems can be solved through solutions.?

I also believe we are drawn to people with a positive, upbeat attitude and those qualities can naturally project positivity in us and grow our own confidence.

Take the right level of action.

I don't mean getting through your daily 'to-do' lists.

I mean taking action to improve your situation. Even if it's small steps we are all trying to make progress within our careers. I honestly believe we always kind of know what we really need to do to make progress but if it's uncomfortable we delay it. Once you learn how to make the uncomfortable, comfortable through your beliefs you naturally grow in confidence. Its worked for me.

Something to think about;

Remember this; For most of us, our career is a 45+yr journey. It will have highs and lows, and many bumps and curves along the way.

It's the same with your confidence. You cant expect your confidence to stay at a peak over that length of time.

Understanding this can be the first steps to understanding that if you have experienced a dip in confidence, treat it like a muscle that you need to train and grow consistently.

Before you go take a look at my quick 'How To Reimagine Your Career Masterclass Reflection' video which talks more about what we learnt.

Speak soon

Justin