Liz Kentish lists 10 great ways to increase your confidence, raise your profile and get more of what you want from work.
1. Think about someone you admire in your business world, a senior manager or member of the board. Model (don’t mimic) their mannerisms and behaviour, build them into your own personality. If you’re looking for a raise or a promotion, act as if you’ve already got it.
2. Smile more. That doesn’t mean putting a silly grin on your face, but smile when you walk down the street and when you meet and greet people at work.
3. Prepare for every situation. People self-sabotage. They have a meeting or an interview and decide in their mind they’re not really good enough so they don’t make the effort to prepare. Understandably it goes horribly wrong, they can then pat themselves on the back for being right. “I knew it wouldn’t go well”. Always prepare yourself with a positive mental attitude and allow yourself to ask others for help.
4. Play to your strengths. Know what you are good at and use these skills at every opportunity. Because you’re good at it, you’ll enjoy it and have more confidence.
5. Don’t let the words of others affect you. No one can make you feel inferior without your consent. Change the way you think. For example, if you have a difficult boss or a rude colleague, understand that their behaviour says more about them than it does about you.
6. List the words that you use on a consistent basis when things do not go your way or someone lets you down. Instead of saying “I’m really angry about this” say, “I’m a little annoyed”. Make a substitute list of words that are lower in intensity and use those instead. Manage your reactions and you’ll be surprised how much easier it is to let go of the negative emotion and get back on track with your day.
7. Improve your body language. 55% of communication is body language. Walk with purpose, head up, shoulders back as though you’ve got somewhere important to go. In meetings – sit up straight – if you slump in your chair and mumble, what you say won’t have an impact.
8. Emotion is created by motion. Your posture creates the way you feel internally. Whatever you are feeling right now is directly related to how you are using your body. Upright and deep breathing creates a feeling of energy, mentally and physically.
9. Learn to feel good about yourself. That’s right! Discuss your achievements and successes. When someone says, that was a great job, say, ‘Thank you’, and smile!
10. Learn how to say no to people, in the right way. Put forward your reasons why you can’t take on any more and propose alternative options. After you’ve said it the first time it gets easier!
Bonus tip. Appreciate what you have to be thankful for in your life. Who do you love? Loves you? Who do you help and who is supportive of you? Don’t forget the people around us we should be grateful for.