INSYNC
Success directly relates to confidence quotient
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, Roman scholar
One fact that the recession has shaken people all over the globe is that – it has torn their self confidence to shreds. Be it CEOs, vice presidents, bank managers or share brokers everyone seems to be taking a step or two backward on the confidence count. Without prejudice this malady has hit all skin types.
Financial caution needs to be exercised now in all organisations, but does it call for lowering your confidence levels? All the more when the situation is demanding and needs newer and bolder methods to tackle it, can one afford to be short on confidence?
Career progress is simply a matter of your confidence quotient. One may have all the right skills, right training but lack of confidence in yourself that you can accomplish a given task or undertake a new project can deter you from moving in the right direction.
Did you notice the tight rope walker in the circus? It is not the matter of training, you can see the ever lasting smile on the face of the rope walker, there is no frown on the brow – that is what is confidence.
You have all the skills required to do a job well but are not willing to take the responsibility to use them to bring out the necessary results. The hesitation that you may be ridiculed, the lurking fear of failure or the simple doubt that you skills are inadequate to do the job restrict you from performance.Confidence is all the skills you possess plus the ability to display them and use them to your benefit at any given time.
What can lack of confidence do to you? If lack of confidence lingers, you will be unable to perform even the simplest of tasks. Forget about tight rope walking, even crossing the street will be a nightmare for you, if you do not push up the confidence level.
What do people with no confidence keep saying to themselves?
I can’t do it. I may go wrong. I am afraid. These are the constant factors pulling them back.So what you need to do to keep you confidence high is, shun those pessimistic phrases.
Assess what skill levels you have attained to undertake a particular task. If the situation calls for you to demonstrate those skills, don’t hesitate. It is better to test your given skills in a real situation and find out for yourself how good you are. If you fail that means you need to learn more. If you finish the set task, it means you can do more of the same.
Unless you attempt, you will never be able to rate your skills and learning. If you hesitate time after time, your peers and boss will write you off as a failure, even before you start.
How do you build confidence?
Some have it inborn, but those who are not endowed with such natural gift, there is no need to despair.
First - You need to have a role model. May be someone in your workplace, a film personality, sports person or a statesman. Read about their habits or closely follow their way of life or living and doing their work. You will soon notice that they are people who are winners always. They are proactive in all situations and are ready to take on any assignment.
Second – Also notice that these personalities have a particular way of presenting themselves. They have their very own trade marks. So you need to present yourself better. Dress well. People who dress well get the attention of others. People will become friends quickly and this will lead to conversations. This will give you a chance to express your views, feelings and provide a chance to interact with others and be able to feel confident.
Third - Cultivate a ’can do’ attitude. Kick out the ’I will fail’ thoughts. Replace them by ’let me try’ or ’no harm in taking a chance’. These self motivating thoughts will push you to the edge to perform without fear. Build up the passion to perform rather being a passive onlooker. Performers become winners even if you lose, you will be a ’runner up’.Remember the ’runner up’ also get a prize. Not the onlookers.
Fourth – Your gait. Your gait gives you away when you are not sure of yourself. People with a defined goal have a spring in their step. They may not run but they are sure footed like the mountain goats, which climbs the rockies without one step out of place.
Your walk betrays you if you are not confident. So walk with a firm step.
Fifth – Speak when the occasion demands. In a meeting or conference or workshop. Be ready to speak or have your say.
Never shy away from a chance to put your views across. This will lead to sharing ideas from across the participants. Your knowledge levels will increase, so will your self confidence.
Confidence comes with action. If you do not get in to the act, you will always be in the sidelines.
