How to Build Your Confidence in Business

Confidence

In business and in life, many times we face the wall of self-doubt. That wall may be our internal struggle that says: “You’re not good enough,” or “This is too much for me,” or “I can’t do this,” or even “Others will think it’s stupid.”
Many new business owners, entrepreneurs, or professionals feel that anxiety, fear of rejection, or simply not believing enough in themselves is holding them back from their true potential.

Is that the case with you? Have you just started a new business or a new project and feel that, while the idea is great, you don’t feel up to the task?
Or are you a professional working to grow your career within the company, but struggling to find the strength to speak up in meetings, make that big presentation, or propose a new project to your employer?

To overcome that wall and find success within ourselves, we need: confidence!

Confidence is the inner belief that we know who we are. It’s the courage to scale that wall of self-doubt and say: “I’ve got this!” Confidence is what others don’t see. They only see the effects of a confident person: a presentation well done, a new business growing, a successful business deal, and so forth. But confidence is really working behind the scenes, keeping that anxious heart at bay and stopping your mind from wandering into self-doubt.
Remember: 99% of the work was done within you to get to the point where you are now.

So how do we gain confidence for our business?

The three Ps can help: Preparation, Practice, and Poise.

Let’s take a look at how each one can boost your confidence in business!

1. Preparation: In other words… “Know your stuff!”

When going into any business venture, project, or major assignment, we need to be prepared. Research everything you can about the topic you will be addressing. For example, if you are starting a new business, do thorough research on the products, market, competitors, expenses, etc., related to your business. The more knowledge we have, the more confident we’ll be to face any surprises along our journey.

There are also two specific things we can do to aid our overall preparation:

The first is to Prepare Mentally – if we are going to give a speech, for example, apart from knowing what to say, we must train ourselves to stay focused on the message and not on ourselves.

Can we anticipate potential objections?

Do we know when to pause, where to ask questions, or where to use illustrations or stats?
If we are in a new business venture, we can prepare ourselves mentally to face unexpected outcomes. Be realistic and know that there will always be good days and bad days.

Secondly, Prepare Emotionally – emotions play a big role in life and in our business lives. Setbacks, failures, or unexpected events can easily sidetrack or dishearten a professional, allowing feelings of doubt and fear to creep in. But knowing how to recognize these emotions for what they are and having a plan on how to manage them ahead of time can lessen the burden of these emotional ups and downs in business. Creating a good support system around us – with coworkers, business advisors, friends, or even family members – can go a long way in keeping a proper emotional balance throughout our professional career.

2. Practice: The old idiom says: Practice makes perfect.

While we shouldn’t expect perfection from ourselves, it is true that through repeated exposure to experiences in a field of business, our familiarity increases and our skills are refined.
When we live through an experience, whether positive or negative, our mind catalogs everything: our thoughts, feelings, and the decisions we made. It’s as if our mind is mapping out the landscape of our professional self, and every time we go over the same routes, we become more skilled in that field. What used to scare us simply because it was new may no longer seem so daunting. Experience brings out the reality of situations, and with more practice, our confidence is boosted.

A word of caution though! Once our confidence goes up, don’t lose the practice! Continue practicing and refining your professional skills. This keeps us sharp and up to date with the ever-changing business world around us.

3. Poise: In every challenge, find your poise.

Poise is basically the ability to keep ourselves under control and maintain composure in tough situations. And business has a lot of tough situations!
When going through new challenges in business or in our professional lives, it’s easy to let our emotions get the better of us. Anxiety, fear, and self-doubt all start off as simple thoughts that pop up in our minds. In turn, these thoughts can transform into actions through our overall body language. A lack of poise is seen through our hand, feet, and body movements. This body language speaks for itself and, whether we realize it or not, can detract from the goal we’re trying to achieve. For example, fidgeting with our hands, shuffling our feet, or an overly rigid stance can be distracting to our audience.

Poise is also important in our voice and choice of words. When we get nervous, we might start rambling on or our voice might crack or shake. By working on our poise, we gain control over our emotions and our body language.

Why is this so important? When we have to make a big decision in business or have an important task before us, we wouldn’t want anything to distract us from doing our best. We want a clear mind so we can concentrate on where the real value is, and not get sidetracked by either our physical or emotional worries in that moment. Oftentimes, it is just the thought of being in a state of anxiety that distracts us from giving the best version of ourselves to the task at hand.
So the next time you face a challenge in your business and feel at risk of losing control or not knowing what to do next, try these steps:

• Hit the Pause button.
  
  
• Take a deep breath. Maybe even more than one…
  
  
• Choose your words and thoughts carefully.
  
  
• Be self-aware of your body language and what you are feeling.
  
  
• Make a conscious effort to relax your body.
  
  

Now… face your challenge with confidence!

Confidence in business is built on the three Ps: Preparation, Practice, and Poise.

Preparation gives us the knowledge and mental clarity to tackle any challenge head-on. Practice allows us to refine our skills and gain experience, turning unfamiliar territory into familiar ground. Poise ensures that we stay composed, focused, and clear-minded even in the most stressful situations.
So, as you navigate your business journey, remember to prepare diligently, practice consistently, and maintain your poise no matter what comes your way. These three Ps will help you turn that anxious self-doubt into the quiet, steady confidence that powers great achievements.

Go out there and show the world your confidence!