You’re a woman with big ambitions. You want to start your own business, take your career to the next level, or just be more confident in your everyday job. But sometimes self-doubt gets in the way. You may ask yourself:
- “Do I really have what it takes?”
- “Can I really do this?”
- “What if I fail?”
You’re not alone. A lot of women feel this way at some point in their careers. The good news is that there are ways to overcome these doubts and be more confident in your abilities. Following are essential tips to build confidence and reach your goals. Read on and get ready to achieve great things!
5 Steps to Recognize and Overcome Self-Doubt
Do you ever feel like you’re not good enough? That you don’t deserve to achieve your goals because you’re not smart enough, or talented enough, or pretty enough?
Self-doubt can be incredibly paralyzing. It can keep you from starting our own businesses, seeking investors, asking for a raise, looking for a new job, asking for a promotion, speaking up in meetings, and more.
How do you overcome self-doubt and believe in yourself? Here are five key steps you can take:
1. Increase Your Knowledge and Skills
Making it in business doesn’t just require confidence; you need knowledge and skills to back it up. To get the promotion, business deal, or job you want, show that you’re qualified and have the experience to get the job done. Go out of your way to learn as much as possible about the industry and your field. The more knowledgeable you are, and the more skills you have, the more valuable you become.
Take on new tasks, take classes, read industry-specific books, or listen to podcasts on related topics. Seek out mentors who can help guide and teach you how to succeed in business. When meeting with mentors or potential employers, don’t be afraid to ask questions. Asking questions shows that you’re interested in learning, and that can go a long way in building your confidence!
2. Be Decisive
It’s very important that you learn how to be decisive when it comes to reaching your goals and overcoming self-doubt. Being able to make decisions quickly and confidently can help you move forward and reach those goals faster.
One way to become more decisive is to educate yourself on the topic or the issue at hand. Research is key! Gather as much information as you can in order to make an informed decision. Read, ask questions, and do whatever it takes to get the knowledge you need. When you take the time to learn, you’ll know what direction is best for your business or your career.
It’s also important that you believe in yourself and in your decisions. Know that there will always be an element of risk involved, but don’t let fear stop you from taking chances when necessary. Acknowledge that failure is a part of success, and embrace it instead of running away from it. Having this mindset will help give you the confidence needed to make sound decisions, no matter how big or small.
3. Recognize and Learn from Your Failures
No one is perfect and failure is a part of life. But how you respond to failure can be the difference between success and mediocrity. If you want to feel more confident in the business world, you must recognize your failures and use them as learning experiences.
Instead of worrying about making mistakes, learn from them. Take the time to go over what went wrong, why it went wrong, and how you can fix it for next time. Once you understand where things went wrong, focus on what you did right and how to replicate those successes in future experiences.
Celebrate your successes by giving yourself credit for them and acknowledging the hard work you put in to succeed. Once you do this, your confidence will begin to grow and will help propel you forward into achieving greater things.
4. Build a Support System of People Who Believe in You
When you feel unconfident, it’s easy to shut down and give up on reaching your next goal. However, by having a strong support system of people who understand and believe in you and your abilities, you can start to overcome these insecurities.
Having a few key people who will be there for you and who will provide encouragement and lift you up when you start to doubt yourself is so important. These people could be mentors, friends, colleagues, or family members. The most important thing is to have someone who truly believes in the potential within you.
Surrounding yourself with these positive influences could mean meeting new people or getting involved in different networks or organizations that are all focused on helping women succeed in business. You may even find that as your confidence grows, so does your ability to influence and inspire others on their journey too, which can be incredibly uplifting for everyone!
5. Mirror Business Women You Admire
Make a list of the most successful women you admire in business. Study their successes and emulate whatever it is they do that you think is admirable. Pay attention to their communication style, body language, and attitude. Many times, when we can model ourselves after people who are more successful than us, it helps us feel that same level of confidence and mastery over our own lives.
It’s also important to make sure the people you admire match how you want to approach your career. You should be inspired by people who motivate you genuinely – not just because they have notoriety or success – but because of the way they carry themselves and the decisions they’ve made that have led them to where they are today.
It’s also important to look for role models who are already in industries or roles similar to yours so it’s easier for you to relate to them and effectively learn from their experiences.
More Tips to Overcome Self-Doubt
In addition to the five steps you can take to overcome self-doubt discussed above, below are more tips to help you gain confidence, reach your goals, and be a successful business woman.
Embrace Why You’re the Perfect Candidate
Don’t be afraid to toot your own horn a little bit. The truth is, you’re the perfect candidate for the job, project, or other opportunity — and you know it. But it’s crucial that you believe it, too. So embrace your skills, strengths and experiences. They got you this far, and they’ll help you achieve even bigger successes.
Remember, there’s no one-size-fits-all formula for success. What works for one woman may not work for another, so don’t be afraid to find your own path and blaze your own trail. It’s what makes you unique, and that’s something to be celebrated.
Don’t Sell Yourself Short – Make the Ask
When it comes to our careers, women often don’t believe we’re worth as much as we are. We sell ourselves short and don’t ask for what we want. We’re too scared of being rejected or of looking selfish.
But the truth is, if you never ask, you’ll never get. You have to put yourself out there and make the ask for a raise, promotion, business funding, and so on. And if you’re not happy with your current situation or getting the results you want, don’t be afraid to look for a new job or investor.
The bottom line is, you need to believe in yourself. You need to know that you deserve to reach your goals and achieve your dreams. And when you have that confidence, nothing can hold you back.
Make Your Voice Heard in Meetings
Sometimes, it can be hard to make your voice heard in meetings. Many people have been in situations where we have something to contribute but are too scared or shy to speak up. However, if you want to succeed as a business woman, you’ll have to find a way to make yourself heard.
One way to do this is by being prepared for every call or meeting. When you know more than you need to, you’ll feel more confident, your contribution will be more valuable, and people will be more likely to listen.
Having an extra bit of knowledge or perspective can give you the confidence boost you need not just to speak out but also to make sure everyone has heard what you had to say.
Another solution is body language; be sure not to sit behind everyone and make sure your opinions don’t get lost in the shuffle. Sit up straight, make direct eye contact, and remove words like “I think” or “maybe” from your vocabulary. You need to look and sound confident so others listen and believe your input is valuable.
Confidently Take Smart Risks
Every successful person has taken risks in order to get ahead. In fact, taking risks is all part of the learning and growth process, but it’s important to remember that taking risks doesn’t mean you should move forward without careful thought and consideration first. To succeed, you have to have the confidence to take intelligent risks and make calculated decisions that are right for you and your business.
When it comes to taking risks, it’s best to start small. This way, you can test the waters before making any major moves. So if you’re looking for a new job, for example, don’t dive in head first — start by networking and talking to people who can give you advice on your career goals and next steps before you take any big leaps.
This may also include investing time and money into courses or mentorships that will help give you the skills and knowledge need to move up in your field or pursue a new venture with confidence. Taking small steps to build up your skills can give you more knowledge about the industry, which leads to increased self-confidence, which will help equip you with the courage needed to take bigger smart risks in the future.
Key Takeaways to Beat Self-Doubt and Reach Your Goals
Take some time to work on building your confidence. You deserve to achieve your goals, and with a little bit of effort, you can get rid of the self-doubt that’s holding you back. You have the power to change your thinking and improve your life, so don’t wait any longer — start taking action today.
Susan Gunelius
Susan Gunelius is the Founder and Editor-in-Chief of Women on Business. She is a 30-year veteran of the marketing field and has authored a dozen books about marketing, branding, and social media, including the highly popular Ultimate Guide to Email Marketing, 30-Minute Social Media Marketing, Content Marketing for Dummies, Blogging All-in-One for Dummies and Kick-ass Copywriting in 10 Easy Steps. Susan’s marketing-related content can be found on Entrepreneur.com, Forbes.com, MSNBC.com, BusinessWeek.com, and more. Susan is President & CEO of KeySplash Creative, Inc., a marketing communications company. She has worked in corporate marketing roles and through client relationships with AT&T, HSBC, Citibank, Intuit, The New York Times, Cox Communications, and many more large and small companies around the world. Susan also speaks about marketing, branding and social media at events around the world and is frequently interviewed by television, online, radio, and print media organizations about these topics. She holds an MBA in Management and Strategy and a Bachelor of Science degree in Marketing and is a Certified Professional Career Coach (CPCC).
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