Boost your confidence 10 ways

Think of a person who radiates self-assurance, who seems to have an innate gift to “own the room.” 

They draw every eye with their poise and confidence, command attention while speaking, and have a personal magnetism that inspires and engages.  How do they do it? Practice… and lots of it. I say this from personal experience.

After a decade of working in TV news—emceeing large-scale events, interviewing high profile news makers and talking my way through a daily 2 1/2 hour morning show—I sometimes scratch my head. How did a girl, who was once too afraid to call and order a pizza, become a professional journalist and confident communicator?

Here’s the secret… Confidence is not a gift, it’s a skill we must develop.

Floral Shirt | Pleated Skirt (my color sold out, but it’s available in orange & pink) | Shoes (similar) | Aviators

Sure, it may come more naturally to some. But with strategy and preparation, ANYONE can boost their confidence. Better yet, you can project confidence long before you feel it.

Ever hear the saying “fake it till you make it?” That certainly holds true here.

I like to think I am now very confident in manner and in dress. Part of that has been reaching a point where I truly know myself, my belief structure, what I care about and who I want to be. I understand my worth and when to how to hold my ground. The urge to “blend in” or copy—gone completely. I’ll blaze my own trail. However, I am STILL a work in progress. As with any skill, I push myself regularly to exercise boldness and to reach outside my comfort zone.

Do you want to feel more confident in business and personal settings, while networking, or in your appearance?

My orange dress unfortunately sold out before I could share it, but I’ve linked some of my other bold color, boss lady favorites below! 

Here are 10 things that help:

1. Be prepared: Have an upcoming presentation, job interview, etc? Do your homework. Anticipate possible questions, topics and discussion. When a notable guest was coming to my morning show, I made sure to read up on them and their work. Knowledge is power.
2. Watch your posture: Chin up, shoulders back, spine straight. This is simple, but vital! Have you ever seen a ballerina walk? This is what you’re after. Body language plays a huge role in perception. Ask a friend to observe you or record yourself in a mock scenario. I was able to identify and correct lots of bad posture habits by watching myself anchoring and reporting.
3. Silence your inner critic: We are much harder on ourselves than others. Ignore that doubting inner voice. Focus instead on what friends and supporters say.
4. Start more conversations: Find yourself buried in your phone while waiting in the line at the coffee shop or grocery store? Put it down and chat up a stranger. By practicing casual conversations in low-pressure settings, you will be more prepared for important networking interactions.
5. Dress to impress: I firmly believe clothing that fits well and flatters can dramatically boost confidence. Have a dress in your closet that instantly makes you smile? Use it! When you feel good about the way you look, your self-assurance radiates. I talk about doing this AFFORDABLY here.
6. Set yourself up to win: Goal setting is a journey. Make sure you are setting small achievable goals, in addition to larger ones. Every time we reach a milestone or goal, our confidence gets a boost.
7. Remember we ALL have insecurities: This is especially true for the people who don’t seem to have them. They’re just better at disguising their fears. Do not overestimate the competition and underestimate yourself—T. Harv Eker
8. Help someone:  Find a practical way to help someone else and—without realizing it—you boost your own self-confidence. While mentoring, teaching or coaching, we forget about our own shortcomings and instead make a difference for someone else.
9. Smile: Even when you don’t feel like it. Exercising those muscles makes you more approachable and in turn you will feel better about yourself.
10. Do one thing that scares you each week: This one is not easy. But, then again, nothing truly worthwhile is. By constantly challenging ourselves, we are building our confidence based on new knowledge and experience.

Confident Clothing

Don’t miss a post! Subscribe to my monthly newsletter (see sidebar)