Building your Confidence Curve

We all know that confidence is the key to success. Confidence determines so many things, like our decision-making skills, the way we influence others…ultimately resulting in the way we lead. As a leader, confidence is viewed as a basic ingredient for success. However, even the most basic ingredient needs to be weighed, calculated and handled in the right manner.

Confidence is not like a foundation in a house. It grows when we build it, it shrinks if we don’t push ourselves to overcome the unknown. Like a curve, our confidence goes up and down and it is about knowing how to keep our confidence up.

Her are two things to consider:

·????????We all lack confidence from time to time

·????????We need to recognise when and why we lack confidence

So, where does our confidence come from and how can we build our confidence curve?

The beginning of confidence is having the courage to admit that we don’t know something and that we do not feel confident. For example, we must deliver a task that we are not experienced in, or we do not understand the assignment we have been given.

After acknowledging the lack of confidence, it is time to build. Ask yourself the following questions:

·????????Who/where can I go to for help?

·????????What strategies can I apply to enable me to be more confident?

This is the building phase when our confidence curve starts shifting. For example, it may be that we remind ourselves of what we have achieved that may be like the current task we are facing. We could look at what a colleague has done in a similar situation and learn from it.

There are many ways to gain confidence and for our curve to rise. But the most important thing is to be self-aware and know where we lack confidence. We need to keep practicing this awareness and the things we know that work for us to maintain our confidence curve.

Reinforcing positive habits that build our confidence is crucial. We asked The Activation Project Team for some tips on confidence boosters. Here is what they said:

Charlotte: I write notes for myself, for example, “You can do this – breathe!” and keep looking at it when my confidence dips down.”

Faith:” I put reminders with positive quotes on my phone. We use our phones so often between work. I use my phone, social media if I lack confidence. I can have the worst day or face the hardest task but the first thing I will see is a positive quote to keep me going. Personally, it helps me refocus.”

Amanda: “I tend to think about things I have previously achieved/delivered and work out what I feel confident about to identify my worries/concerns. Additionally, I might speak to a colleague/friend.”

What are your confidence boosters?