1. HOW TO BE MORE CONFIDENT
Self-confidence – how you measure your abilities and
skills – isn't quite the same thing as self-esteem,
which is how you value yourself as a person. But it is
something that people often say they would like to have
more of.
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Whether your self-confidence needs a major boost or
just a bit of a top-up, here are some tips to get you
started:
1. Recognise your strengths
Think about how good you feel when someone praises you
and shows their appreciation for something you've said
or done. Praise is a great confidence booster, but you
don't always have to rely on others for it.
Give yourself a big pat on the back by thinking about
all the things you do well, especially things you do

2. better than others. Make a list if it helps. Include
things such as your skills, qualifications and
contacts. Then when you've finished, make a note of
your best achievements. Be as objective as you can – if
you're struggling, try to see yourself through someone
else's eyes. What would they say you do well, or see as
your greatest achievements?
And if a project has just gone badly, focus on an
element what went well, as well as learning from the
experience this provided. You can then focus on how you
have grown as an individual and how future projects
will be better.
2. Tackle stress
Managing stress is essential if you want to feel
confident. If you give into it, you're more likely to
experience negative thoughts – which is something you
should avoid if you want more self-confidence. Learning
to control stress, on the other hand, can make you feel
you have control over your life, which itself can be
very empowering.
There are lots of things you can do to manage your
stress levels more effectively. Taking regular exercise
can help, since exercise releases 'relaxing' hormones
called endorphins. Being active can also give you a

3. boost by taking your mind off any thoughts that might
be chipping away at your self-confidence. So try going
for a walk at lunchtime instead of working through with
a sandwich. You could also consider taking up a
relaxing activity such as yoga or t'ai chi, both of
which may help you feel calmer.
Meditation is also recommended as a way of reducing
stress. Mindful meditation, which aims to make you more
aware of what's happening in the present moment, is
recommended by a growing number of experts these days.
Try it yourself by reading our article Managing stress
with mindfulness.
3. Do your homework
Many people, even those who normally feel sure of
themselves, find their self-confidence flies out of the
window whenever they're faced with certain situations –
making a speech, for instance, or going for a job
interview. Being as fully prepared for the event as
possible is the key to overcoming performance nerves.
For example, if you're taking an exam, make sure you do
your studying and revising in plenty of time. Or if
you're going for a job interview, find out as much as
you can about the company and the position you're

4. applying for well ahead of the day itself (read Top ten
interview tips for more advice).
If you've done your homework and have all the
information you need to do well, it can work wonders
for your confidence.
4. Practise resilience
People with bags of self-confidence are rarely put off
when they confront obstacles or when things don't go
according to plan. Instead, they embrace new challenges
because they aren't constantly defining themselves by
their failures. That way, if they do fail at something,
they are much more likely to consider it as a learning
experience than feel despondent about it.
Learning to be more resilient at work and at home means
you may be able to cope better with most of the things
life throws at you – and that in itself can give your
self-confidence a huge boost.
For plenty of tips on building your resilience, read
our articles 10 ways to boost your work resilience and
Guide to coping with change and boosting resilience.

5. 5. Try something new
You won't do your confidence levels much good if you
never try new things. Sticking with what seems safe and
familiar is all very well, but developing self-
confidence requires taking some risks, if only to learn
how not to let things get you down when you don't
succeed. Overcoming the fear of failure can be a major
confidence builder, but you'll never achieve it if you
never step out of your comfort zone.
Start by tackling something small – whether it's work-
related or a personal challenge. And if things don't
work out as you'd expected, remind yourself that you're
still one step closer to success.
6. Act confident
If all else fails, fake it. Even if you don't feel
particularly confident, act as if you are. You may be
pleasantly surprised at how positively it can affect
people's reactions to you. Make sure your body language
is confident: stand tall, relax your shoulders and hold
your head up. Remember to keep good eye contact with
others and smile – that way, people will see you as
someone who's relaxed and feeling sure of yourself.

6. There's another good reason why you should practise
faking confidence. Many experts also believe the more
you practise acting as if you have lots of self-
confidence, the more it will increase your real
confidence levels.