A common message being communicated right now from top companies to prime ministers to presidents is that the trick for continued success in this economic climate can be summed up in one word – confidence.

Confidence is often an underestimated tool in what contributes to professional or business success.   So what is confidence?  According to Wikipedia confidence is ‘a state of being certain or being very sure or positive about something’.

In terms of people, confidence is about understanding who you are, what you can do, and the value you can bring to others.  Being confident means you have faith in your skills, abilities and knowing that what you have to offer is of benefit to others.

However don’t confuse confidence with ego or aggressive self promotion. Confidence doesn’t necessarily mean shouting loudly from the rooftops about how great you are.  But it is about you knowing yourself, understanding your strengths, and acknowledging the value you have as a person and professional.

Have you ever looked around the office and wondered why some people seem to just attract success, the promotion, and the higher paid roles while others don’t?  Sometimes it is that they are better qualified and more experienced but sometimes it is because they are just more confident.

When you are confident, people feel they can trust you, that you are capable, that you will take charge and deliver.  Ultimately they feel they are putting that job, company, service or business in safe hands. Every achiever I have ever met says “My life turned around when I began to believe in me”  – Robert Schuller

Consider for a moment – Do you have confidence in yourself, your work, or your business?  What are you communicating to people in the words that you use, the energy you give out, and the body language you communicate to others.

As a personal branding specialist I often observe the difference in confidence in people and the results they then experience either in the career or business when they define and manage their personal brand and begin to take pride in their unique combination of skills, attributes, capabilities, and value what they have to offer.

Tips to Boost Your Confidence

•    Know yourself – understand your strengths, skills, and value you bring.
•    Be able to communicate to others your key selling points.  This will build your confidence when you know what you need to say and promote.
•    Have a plan to work toward – keep focused on the long term “game” – then when you get those small knocks along the way you will know that they are just part of the process to get to where you need to go.
•    Whether you are trying to be more confident in your business or yourself – Set goals, reach out where you need to, and be realistic.  Nothing undermines your confidence more than when you are aiming for goals that sometimes that are just too high (for now).
•    Use every opportunity to learn, grow and expand your knowledge, skills or experience.
•    Take time to review where you are at, and acknowledge the progress and successes you have had along the way.
•    Celebrate the small wins – these are confidence boosters.  Don’t just hang out for the big wins.
•    Be kind to yourself and to your situation.
•    Remember sometimes it is just business – it is not personal.

Remember as soon as you use the word – can’t.  You won’t!  We all agree it is challenging economic times but if you feel more confident about the business you are in, the job that you do, or that job interview you are going for.  Not only will others benefit but ultimately so will you.

If you want to develop greater confidence, Brand YOU has a range of confidence programmes available – explore the “Build Confidence – Build Success” e-programme for a brighter future for you and your business or career.

Article written for Gloss.co.nz May 2009