How to Build Confidence Through Daily Achievements
Jeannette Koczela, Certified Life and Business Coach
Founder of the International Association of Professional Life Coaches? Our members get Credibility ~ Connections ~ Cash-Flow Training, Author of 3 Life Coach Business Books
Confidence Through Achievement
Getting accredited or certified is only one strategy to help increase your coaching confidence. You can also build confidence through achievement.
The sort of achievements I’m talking about are achievements you accomplish yourself. For example, getting that eBook out or planning and setting up your list.
Achievements don’t have to be big. They can be as little as following up with one potential client each day, or going to the gym.
Plan to achieve three things per day as a minimum:
Once a week, add to that minimum task or action a “big” project or task?—?that’s your “something new” (e.g. setting up that landing page and uploading your product).
Schedule this “big” project or task somewhere between the middle to the end of your work week, so that you will have your collection of smaller achievements to boost your self-confidence by the time you tackle the “big” one.
Focus on building confidence through achievement, especially in areas of your life where confidence is an issue. For example, even if you are brilliant at helping clients, lack of self-esteem could significantly affect your business. You might be more likely to undercut yourself financially by coaching for free, yielding to client pressure for reduced rates, or not valuing your products.
Here are several areas where you can increase your sense of accomplishment:
1) Personal
Analyze your personal life. What areas drain your confidence? Is your marriage sapping your energy? A chaotic home life? Negative voices from the past or present?
Decide what you will no longer put up with, then decide how you can change the way things are.
Who can you recruit to help you? Who can you count on?
Do you yourself need coaching in personal areas such as organization, communication, assertiveness, etc.?
What strategies will you employ to change things or just to boost your mood, if you feel demoralized?
Remember that even coaches who seem to be powerhouses have down days and occasionally have trouble breaking out of inertia. Coach Bess Blanco shares some of her favorite strategies:
“When I experience paralysis or self-doubt (which seems to come around every so often, no matter how “successful” I feel!) I usually put on a podcast or recorded talk that energizes and invigorates my spirit! TED talks that are about the cause behind my coaching, are always a way to remove the self-doubt or fear of moving forward. They remind me why I’m doing this in the first place!”
It is normal for even the best coaches to have a “down” day or feel their energy flattened by a household full of sick children, or the loss of a family pet. These events have to be taken in stride and dealt with, as do everyday energy-busters that can be changed to achievement-focused actions.
While no one can achieve perfect harmony and balance in all areas of their lives one hundred percent of the time?—?you CAN choose to:
2) Financial
Some of the most effective coaches in the world are virtually unknown except in their own small circle. Why are they unknown? Because their financial beliefs and systems keep them living payment to payment.
It’s great to help needy clients?—?but do make sure you have a policy for how, when, and why you will do this. Don’t just cave in out of guilt or pressure. You know the proven fact: ‘People don’t value what they get for free’. By all means, do offer free gifts?—?but make sure these gifts accomplish a specific purpose.
For example, offer a gift that…
Another bad financial habit is to continue doing everything yourself, trying to save money, and leaving only a few hours or a couple of days a week for direct money-generating activities. Here’s what you can do to alleviate this:
If you have trouble communicating with others about financial matters, do what it takes to change this.
The number one change you can make right now is to ensure you are charging rates you are happy with. If you need to increase them, do so. Set a date and send an email to your subscribers to let them know your rates will be going up. Turn this into an opportunity by pointing out they can still sign up for packages at the old rates until…(your new date).
Focus on your achievements, clients, and results?—?and you won’t have any trouble justifying your prices if you’re delivering top value.
Finally?—?don’t run from money discussions. If a spouse overspends on a credit card, sit down and have that discussion. If you’re going to be late with a payment, call the institution proactively and make arrangements. If your family wants items currently out of your budget, sit down and discuss that too. Learn to negotiate!
It’s just as important to do this on a small level (e.g. “We’ll pay for new skates?—?but you’ll have to cut the lawn this summer because we’ll have to let the lawn service go in order to save up for them”) as on a large scale.
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3) Spiritual and?Health
Have you neglected your spiritual life lately? It doesn’t matter what you do or don’t believe. We are all beings of both energy and matter. Re-charging is not just about taking a nap. It’s about essential time to meditate, go for a walk, notice flowers, think of others, help your community, and stop to appreciate moments (small ones and great ones).
If you have to, then schedule spiritual time along with other daily “To Do” tasks.
Here’s a simple tip that anyone can adopt from Coach Bess Blanco:
“I do a LOT of deep, count-to-five breathing. Deep breaths and guiding my mind to focus on the bigger picture of my reasons for coaching, by reminding myself that this job is about others, and about providing for my family through this business, I feel refocused and ready to move forward.”
Make sure you pay attention to maintaining a healthy body, as well as a healthy mind. We all know we should exercise, right? Drink lots of water, ditch soda pop and junk food. Start your day with a fresh greens smoothie.
It’s very simple?—?To be confident, you also need to feel your best?—?and taking care of body, soul, and mind can provide a tremendous boost in this direction.
4) Business
The number one way to increase your business confidence is not by going into a frenzy of production creation, social promotion, or spending money on advertising.
Just focus outward.
Instead of dwelling on your own insecurities, beating yourself up with negative self-talk, worrying about bills, or comparing yourself with competitors, focus on being the best coach you can be.
That means actively thinking about your clients and how you can help them even more. It means focusing on your community and getting involved by giving workshops.
Give clients your best?—?and not just your clients. Give your best to:
Everyone you interact with at all.
Pay contractors on time. Follow up on promises?—?especially on actions you’ve said you’ll take.
(Getting into the habit of following up on promises is also a real, action-taking confidence booster!)
Be the business professional that others only aspire to be, while staying honest and authentic.
5) Marketing and Promotion
Make a plan and follow it. If you have difficulty, hire someone who specializes in areas you need help with and leave the mechanics up to them.
Your job is to know what is going on at all times?—?think of it as “quality control.”
And be yourself. Make sure everyone hears the real you.
Ultimately, it’s walking the walk as well as talking the talk that sells the right people on trying your coaching.
Remember, confidence is not about having a super-human ego, it’s about knowing you are:
You choose who you get to be in every moment: And if you have a “down” moment, don’t beat yourself up. Rest, regroup, eat something, give yourself a pep talk, or just do whatever needs to be done next. (And stop to praise yourself when you do.)
In Conclusion
Building confidence through achievement is a process that involves small daily actions, and a commitment to personal growth. By setting and achieving daily goals?—?small, medium, and challenging?—?and incorporating larger projects weekly, you create a foundation of accomplishments that bolster self-confidence.
Addressing personal, financial, spiritual, and health aspects holistically ensures that your confidence is supported across all areas of life.
Focusing on delivering top value to your clients, and maintaining transparent and proactive financial habits are key to sustaining confidence.
Remember, confidence is not about perfection but about consistent progress and self-belief. Embrace each achievement, learn from setbacks, and continually strive to be the best version of yourself.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Jeannette Koczela, a certified Entrepreneur and Business Coach, is the Founder/ President of the International Association of Professional Life Coaches?, an online life coach directory and professional organization supporting life coaches with monthly marketing training and online promotion. She helps new life coaches save hundreds of hours and thousands of dollars, by providing curated business training for starting and running a profitable coaching business, for just $47 a month. Find out more at: https://iaplifecoaches.org/membership
Are you a coach who would like to have a step-by-step plan for a profitable business? Download the free “Coaching Business Blueprint: The 7 Essential Components To Create a Profitable Coaching Business”, and get weekly tips, strategies, and guidance on how to create a thriving coaching business, at https://iaplifecoaches.org/blueprint
Managing Director at John-Marshall.com Life By Design
4 个月Jeannette, thanks for sharing!