That old saying, “Fake it ‘til you make it,” has never been more meaningful than dealing with confidence issues. Confidence is an essential personality trait you can develop to better deal with life’s transitions – both personal and professional – and take risks to ensure your continued success. Some ways to project confidence, even if you do not feel it, include:
- Be optimistic – Do you see the glass as half-empty or half-full? If you see the glass as half-empty, you are likely not an optimist and could experience feelings of low self-worth and doubts. Seeing the glass as half-full places you in the “optimist” category and shows that you look for opportunity rather than failure.
- Do not take yourself too seriously – When you allow yourself to loosen up and enjoy life, you are more relaxed in demeanor, and most people find that refreshing. Most of us have to deal with stress and intense situations every day, so to be around someone who can relax is an absolute pleasure and can garner admiration.
- Pay attention to others – Making eye contact and listening intently to those you engage with is a must when projecting confidence. If you constantly look around the room or up at the ceiling when conversing, you seem less trustworthy and less like someone who demands admiration.
- Dress the part – Whatever you want to succeed in life requires a particular look. Want to rise to a CEO level in your company? Stop dressing in jeans and t-shirts. Show others – with your looks – that you are ready to step into the position, even if you are much lower on the ladder.
- Watch your language – When you speak, speak clearly, and watch your speech to ensure you are not using buzz words or contradictory language or interject phrases such as “you know….” That is referred to as “conversational clutter” and should avoid at all costs.
- Accept and give compliments – Accept compliments about your accomplishments gracefully and give compliments to others when warranted. Accepting compliments show that you realize the value in what you have done, and giving compliments show that you consider yourself a good judge of character.
Even when you do not feel it, projecting a certain amount of confidence shows that you are ready to meet challenges head-on. Sometimes, we do not yet have the knowledge or skills to perform at the top of the game, but you can project determination and enthusiasm to meet the challenge.
Until tomorrow, stay safe, and keep the faith.
