Fake It and You’ll Make It: 10 Tips to Build Self-Confidence
Self-confidence is an essential inner quality in any career, but in many areas (for example, in tech where I work) just because you are a woman, your abilities might be questioned before you even start your job.
I used to hate interviews; they really scared me. To help me get through them with less fear, I started picturing the way one of my colleagues handled interviews and pressure in general. I thought about how he responded to questions he didn’t know the answer to, how he stayed calm even when he felt like the interview wasn’t going well, and how he stayed positive and poised even when he felt he was being treated poorly. I’d mentally go through the whole interview at home, imagining myself displaying that same cool demeanor.
What did I learn from this and how do you go about building self-confidence and faking it until you become more brave? Everyone experiences a lack of self-confidence now and then, but for the sake of your career, it’s important to consciously work on this trait.
The Importance of Self-Confidence
Self-confidence leads to better performance, as well as good feelings about yourself and what you can achieve.
When you lack self-confidence, you can fall into traps that can hold you back. For example, when you’re a junior and learning at a company, you might get into the habit of taking the blame when things go wrong. As a result, you may start thinking you’re stupid or not capable of handling the position. But it’s not on you. You’re not supposed to understand everything from the beginning.
A lack of self-confidence can also lead you to be too modest and hide your success or to let someone else take credit. You might think that your managers will see what you’re doing and promote you without you speaking up, but it usually doesn’t work that way. You might feel too shy to do your own PR and hope a coworker will notice and spread the word. You can’t rely on that either. If you aren’t naturally confident, you need to fake it by sharing your successes, and doing your own PR.
At the same time, self-confidence doesn’t mean you never make mistakes. Everyone does, no matter how confident they are or how long they’ve been in their career. Don’t get stuck on being perfect. Remember: better done than perfect.
Lack of confidence is the number one issue I see in the women I mentor. The good news is that self-confidence can be learned. Overcoming self-doubts happens when you honestly and truthfully assess your abilities and work on areas that need improvement.
“If you have no confidence in self, you are twice defeated in the race of life. With confidence, you have won even before you have started.” –Cicero
Here are ten tips to get you started:
- Work on building self-confidence by reading a self-help book or by getting help from another person. Find a therapist to analyze your negative patterns. Get a coach to help you practice being brave. Find what triggers your lack of confidence and the beliefs that limit you. For example, you might think, “I am not smart enough,” or “I didn’t finish my project on time, so I am not a competent worker.” Once you recognize these thought patterns, you can work through them in therapy, coaching, or speaking with other women. Stop yourself when you notice these negative thoughts, and ask yourself what you would tell a friend who spoke to herself in this harsh way. Also, look at the things you say to yourself and evaluate whether or not they’re true. Maybe you tell yourself you’re too slow at producing work, but when you reflect, you realize you deliver a good job consistently. If it helps, write down the truth about your skills so you remember next time self-doubt creeps in.
- Try things you don’t think you can do. Start a blog. Give a lecture. Present at a conference. Try something that is harder than your current skill level. You might think something like speaking at a conference takes a lot of self-confidence, but it’s really a matter of preparation and practice. Building diverse professional skills is one of the best ways to build confidence in your abilities.
- Engage in meetings even when you don’t feel 100 percent sure about the topic. Ask questions. Share your perspective. The more you do it, the more confident you’ll become.
- Even if you fail when you take a risk, learn from that experience. Separate yourself from failure. You did something, and it failed. You are not a failure. Learn from the situation and then move on.
- Believe you’re worthy of a promotion. Aim high. Ask yourself what you need to do to make it to that next position. Look at the steps and start taking them.
- Look for a supportive community. Find a buddy within your team, someone you can learn from in those areas where your current knowledge and skills are limited.
- Ask people who appreciate you to encourage you. Find people who can help you calm down when you’re feeling nervous, like before a big presentation. When you share how you’re feeling, these friends can show you how valuable you truly are.
- Change your goals. If you’re worried about finding a new job, change the goal from “finding a new job” to “getting as many interviews as possible.” If you succeed in getting interviews, then you’ve already won. Eventually you will get a job.
- If you have a huge task, break it down to small tasks. Small steps are usually easier to handle, practically and emotionally, and little wins can boost your confidence.
- When you’re scared, imagine someone who has confidence— just as I did when I was scared to interview. Envision this person doing what you need to do. How does she handle herself? How does she speak? Notice the small details and then try to imitate them in your own situation.
Fake It and You’ll Make It
Don’t wait until you have confidence to do big, meaningful things. Instead, set big goals and work toward them. It’s time to revise the old refrain “fake it till you make it, and commit to the idea that when it comes to building self-confidence and getting the career you dream of, the catchphrase is “fake it and you’ll make it!”
Thanks for every other informative website. Where else may just I get that type of indo written in such a perfect approach?
I’ve a undertaking that I’m simply now operating on, and I have been at
the look out for such info.
Also visit my page; kierowca anglia
Hi there! I could have sworn I’ve been to this site before but after browsing
through some of the post I realized it’s new to me. Anyhow, I’m definitely glad
I found it and I’ll be bookmarking and checking back frequently!
It is the best time to make some plans for the future
and it’s time to be happy. I have learn this put up and if I
may just I wish to recommend you some attention-grabbing things or suggestions.
Maybe you could write next articles referring to this article.
I desire to learn more things about it!
Keep on working, great job!
my sie – Malarz Anglia, medium.com,
Hi would you mind sharing which blog platform you’re working with?
I’m planning to start my own blog in the near future but I’m having a tough time choosing between BlogEngine/Wordpress/B2evolution and Drupal.
The reason I ask is because your layout seems different then most blogs and I’m looking for something unique.
P.S My apologies for being off-topic but I had to ask!
You’re a true wordsmith.
Lucky block licensed crypto casino 2024 https://medium.com/@passeu/lucky-block-licensed-crypto-casino-2024-c3a8673f0fab
licensed crypto casino 2024 https://medium.com/@passeu/coins-game-licensed-crypto-casino-2024-64b8fb51baac
licensed crypto casino 2024 https://medium.com/@passeu/casinobit-licensed-crypto-casino-2024-9443130e5dde
licensed crypto casino 2024 https://medium.com/@passeu/lucky-block-licensed-crypto-casino-2024-c3a8673f0fab
It’s very effortless to find out any topic on web as compared to books, as I found this piece
of writing at this web site.
“Bravo!”
“Fantastic!”
“Excellent!”
“Well done!”
This article stands out for its clarity.
I value the objectivity presented here.
This is journalism at its finest.
This content is both informative and entertaining.
Engaging content from start to finish!
I appreciate the depth of this article.
A deep dive that was worth every minute.
This has opened up a new perspective for me.
Good post however I was wanting to know if you could write
a litte more on this topic? I’d be very thankful if you could elaborate a little bit further.
Kudos!
Hello! I’m at work browsing your blog from my new iphone!
Just wanted to say I love reading through your blog and look forward to all your posts!
Carry on the outstanding work!
I will immediately snatch your rss feed as I can’t find your email subscription link
or e-newsletter service. Do you have any? Please let me recognize so that I
may just subscribe. Thanks.
I’ve been browsing on-line more than 3 hours nowadays,
but I by no means discovered any attention-grabbing article like yours.
It’s lovely price sufficient for me. In my opinion, if all website owners and
bloggers made good content as you did, the internet
will be a lot more useful than ever before.
cost lasuna – diarex buy online buy himcolin without a prescription
buy besivance cheap – cost carbocysteine buy sildamax medication
neurontin 100mg price – order neurontin sale sulfasalazine 500 mg ca
benemid order online – buy benemid 500 mg pills purchase carbamazepine generic
order mebeverine 135 mg generic – mebeverine price order pletal 100 mg generic
cambia order – buy aspirin cheap aspirin pill
buy generic rumalaya – buy shallaki buy amitriptyline 50mg sale
buy pyridostigmine sale – buy cheap generic imuran order imuran 25mg generic
cheap diclofenac generic – diclofenac without prescription buy nimodipine tablets
ozobax drug – lioresal order online order piroxicam 20mg for sale
mobic online – order meloxicam 7.5mg online cheap toradol drug
cyproheptadine 4mg generic – tizanidine usa tizanidine 2mg sale
cheap trihexyphenidyl – trihexyphenidyl without prescription how to order voltaren gel
buy omnicef online – omnicef ca buy cleocin gel
deltasone 40mg oral – brand zovirax cheap zovirax
buy permethrin cheap – order permethrin online cost retin
betnovate oral – benoquin where to buy oral benoquin
order metronidazole 400mg generic – buy generic cenforce online order cenforce 50mg online
order amoxiclav – order synthroid 100mcg synthroid tablet
cleocin 300mg pill – cheap indocin 50mg buy indomethacin 75mg capsule
cheap hyzaar – keflex sale brand cephalexin 250mg
buy cheap eurax – buy crotamiton no prescription purchase aczone online
brand provigil – buy promethazine for sale where can i buy meloset
how to get zyban without a prescription – orlistat 60mg oral oral shuddha guggulu
xeloda 500mg cheap – buy naproxen generic order generic danazol 100 mg
order prometrium – ponstel over the counter order generic clomiphene
alendronate 70mg price – order nolvadex order provera 5mg online
order norethindrone pills – order aygestin online cheap cheap yasmin
purchase yasmin pill – cost arimidex anastrozole 1mg uk
buy cabergoline pills for sale – alesse canada alesse online order
バイアグラの飲み方と効果 – г‚їгѓЂгѓ©гѓ•г‚Јгѓ« гЃЇйЂљиІ©гЃ§гЃ®иіј г‚їгѓЂгѓ©гѓ•г‚Јгѓ« еЂ¤ж®µ
гѓ—гѓ¬гѓ‰гѓ‹гѓі гЃ®иіје…Ґ – г‚ўг‚ёг‚№гѓгѓћг‚¤г‚·гѓі е‰ЇдЅњз”Ё г‚ўг‚ёг‚№гѓгѓћг‚¤г‚·гѓійЂљиІ©гЃ§иІ·гЃ€гЃѕгЃ™гЃ‹
гѓ—гѓ¬гѓ‰гѓ‹гѓійЊ 10 mg еј·гЃ• – г‚ўг‚ュテイン е‰ЇдЅњз”Ё г‚ўг‚ュテイン通販で買えますか
eriacta dismal – zenegra pills ultimate forzest account
indinavir order online – buy generic crixivan for sale purchase voltaren gel sale
buy provigil pills – purchase epivir generic order lamivudine sale
stromectol for human – oral atacand 8mg oral carbamazepine 200mg
phenergan price – phenergan order oral lincocin