We live in an age where women are making history every day. Whether it’s through climbing the corporate ladder, running for office, or empowering other women in all sorts of industries, women are making waves.
In spite of this progress and evidence that women are doing tremendous things, I continue to hear women express that they lack confidence. Their uncertainty affects how often they speak up in meetings with their male colleagues, bring up concerns to their managers, and evaluate their self-worth in the company. As organizations make efforts to put men and women on equal-playing feels, women need to feel good about themselves and their capabilities.
Building confidence takes tackling multiple areas. Here are a few tips that will help you identify what specifically dampers your confidence as well as train your brain to promote a positive self-image.
Listen to your internal monologue
We need to start listening to the kinds of truths we are telling ourselves. “I’m not good enough,” “I’m not smart enough,” and “I can’t compete with these other people” are self-fulfilling prophecies that determine our view of ourselves. If we tell ourselves that we are not “enough,” then that is all we will allow ourselves to be. Though it may seem uncomfortable and awkward at first, implementing positive self-talk is a baby step toward developing confidence.
Celebrate accomplishments, no matter how small
If the smallest of mistakes can cause us grief and embarrassment for weeks, then why don’t small victories feel as impactful? Make small accomplishments a big deal, and enjoy each and every one of them.
Take risks
Risks require that we make peace with the fact that we may not fully succeed in each of our undertakings. But the more we take risks and give ourselves permission to try new things, the greater our confidence and trust in our abilities will be. Even if you don’t fully believe in yourself, taking a risk unlocks potential you might have never known you had within.
Surround ourselves with uplifting people
People who are champions for our growth, see our worth even when we don’t always see it ourselves, and lift us up are invaluable. These people will be the cornerstones of our positive growth. I like to employ what I call a “Contacts Spring Cleaning.” On social media or in your phone, if you are connected to anyone who is making you feel horrible about yourself, putting you down, and discouraging you, it is time to delete that contact.
Continue to help others
Having low confidence is an internal struggle, but it is also one that most of us share. The more we help others and invest in their growth, the more confidence we will have to continue to empower others. The corporate world is constantly receiving an influx of new talent from new generations, and as more experienced women, let’s help them bypass some of the difficult challenges we faced when we were breaking through. Helping someone is itself a talent, and it’s one that we all have in some capacity.
Confidence is ultimately about trusting ourselves and our abilities. We need to have faith in our work, our personality, and our cause, and we will continue to make waves, inspire, and thrive.
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Dima Ghawi is the founder of a global talent development company with a primary mission for advancing individuals in leadership. Through keynote speeches, training programs and executive coaching, Dima has empowered thousands of professionals across the globe to expand their leadership potential. Reach her at DimaGhawi.com and BreakingVases.com.
