Unleashing Confidence

My Personal Journey of Self-Empowerment

In my roles as a leader, coach, and facilitator, I've discovered that confidence isn't just a trait; it's a skill or even a mindset that can be cultivated and honed over time.

Recently I facilitated management/leadership training for a group of predominantly male, blue-collar managers, when a male participant commented on my confidence. It was a lovely compliment, but it got me thinking… I wasn’t always this way… I hadn't always exuded confidence... what had I done that allowed me to display an air of confidence that was clearly noticeable by other people?

Upon reflection I realised that my journey towards greater confidence began with a simple yet powerful approach that accelerated my progress: flooding my subconscious with a vision of the person I aspired to be. Through mental and physical rehearsal, I ingrained confidence into my very being until it became second nature.

Drawing on my intrigue into human potential and the knowledge I had gained over 20+ years deep diving how to harness our mind, in particular the subconscious aspect of our mind that drives up to 95% of our results. I had gathered and tested various approaches that allowed me to retrain my subconscious mind.

My journey lead me to the discoveries in neuroscience, psychology and even some ancient wisdom, all telling the story of the part of us that we have come to know as our 'default network ' and how we can use the 5% of our mind to consciously make changes to our outdated programming, beliefs and ideas.

I then took what I had learned and applied it to my own life, I created a new identity - one that oozed confiedence.

This is what I did, and if you feel you could do with a bit of a confidence top up, I invite you to experiment with the ideas in your own life.

Tip 1: Immerse Yourself in Your Vision: I flooded my mind with images of myself as a confident, assertive woman. Visualising success in various scenarios helped reshape my subconscious beliefs about my abilities.

Tip 2: Prepare and Rehearse: Confidence grows when we confront our fears head-on. By gathering information, planning my approach, and mentally rehearsing before challenging situations, I pre-emptively tackled doubts and uncertainties.

Tip 3: Practice, Practice, Practice: Whether it's mastering a new skill or navigating difficult conversations, consistent practice breeds confidence. (I rehearsed everything even my new identity) I embraced every opportunity to step out of my comfort zone, knowing that each experience contributed to my growth as a leader.

How did I know what I did worked?

1. I began to feel confident and started to naturally say yes to things without second guessing myself.
2. My environment gave me feedback - they actually commented on my confidence. (Similar to the participant in my workshop)
3. I was offered opportunities that in the past I would be overlooked for.
4. My inner self talk had shifted... the voice in my head now gave me pep talks instead of telling me what I couldn't do.

Applying these principles proved that confidence isn't an innate trait reserved for a select few; it's a mindset that can be cultivated through deliberate effort and perseverance.

Yes we can change our identity and confidently step out of the self imposed boxes we find ourselves in. If I can do it, you can too... but it takes effort! Change is not passive!

So, I invite you to embrace the power of visualisation, preparation, and practice to unlock your full potential, to step out with greater confidence and be a positive role model in our ever changing world.

Remember: Confidence isn't just a destination—it's a journey of self-discovery and empowerment.

Georgia Ellis: Coach to Leaders + Managers www.bluechipminds.com