Although I believe the sexes are equal, there are some unique challenges we face as women when it comes to confidence.
This is especially true in the business world. Women historically have been underrepresented in leadership roles, and sometimes doubt our abilities because of this. We tend to be more critical of ourselves and our work, and we are more likely to attribute our success to luck or timing rather than our own skills and expertise. However, we can overcome these self-doubts by recognizing our strengths, valuing our experience, and building a supportive network. When we take these steps, we can develop the confidence we need to succeed in business and in life.
But Why Do Business Women Struggle with Confidence?
We hesitate to speak up in meetings, ask for raises, or put ourselves forward for new opportunities. But why is this? First, statistics show we aren’t alone in this. Close to 80% of women deal with low self-esteem and shy away from self-advocacy at work.
Nonetheless, to lay ALL the blame on the prevalence of men in leadership positions would be short-sighted- and a disservice to us women
After all, women have made great strides in recent years and now occupy some of the most powerful positions in government and business. The simple truth is that confidence is something that must be cultivated from within. It starts with valuing our own skills and contributions, and believing that we are worthy of success
Many men deal with confidence issues too. But often they are just better at hiding it while they develop their “swagger.”
So, what can you do to take your confidence to new heights?
Follow These 6 Tips & Tricks to Boost Your Confidence as a Woman in Business
1. Review Your Beliefs
The good news is it isn’t you…
Your limiting beliefs are the ones tripping you up.
Therefore, to start building confidence in business, you must re-evaluate your belief system.
This is NOT referring to religion or morals, by the way…
Everyone experiences feelings of self-doubt and insecurity at some point in their lives. When it comes to business, these feelings can be especially pronounced, leading to a lack of confidence in your ability to succeed. However, it’s important to understand that these feelings are not indicative of your actual capabilities. Rather, they are the result of limiting beliefs that you have internalized over the years.
In order to start building confidence in business, you must therefore re-evaluate your belief system. This can be a difficult and daunting task, but it is essential if you want to achieve success. Once you identify and challenge your limiting beliefs, you will be well on your way to building the confidence you need to succeed in business.
2. Replace Negativity with Positivity
Far too often, negativity is allowed to take root and flourish. Whether it’s the discouraging comments of a family member or the teasing of classmates, negativity can have a profound impact on our lives.
And while it’s easy to brush off the negative thoughts of others, the truth is that negativity can be incredibly destructive. It can break aspiring actresses, hinder forward-thinking inventors, and silence musicians. Negativity has the power to kill confidence and crush dreams. But it doesn’t have to be this way. By becoming aware of the negative thoughts and toxic people in our lives, we can take steps to protect ourselves from their harmful influence.
In contrast to what negativity takes away from you, think about what positivity would add to your life as a substitute. Some benefits to consider are:
- Increased motivation and energy
- Higher levels of productivity
- Courage to share ideas without fear of judgment
- Empowering network of women
- And, of course, bulletproof confidence
Generally speaking, people are attracted to positive individuals.
When people want to work with you, it only strengthens your self-esteem.
Then, once potential business partners approach you for collaborations, you can start making use of my next point.
3. Find Your Superpower
Next, I need you to ask yourself a very important question:
What sets you apart from everyone else?
If you’re struggling to identify your personal strengths, don’t hesitate to ask the 10 closest people in your life what they admire about you. Oftentimes, other people can see our best qualities more clearly than we can see them ourselves. Once you have a better understanding of your strengths, it’ll be easier for you to focus on honing and developing them. And don’t worry about the areas where you may not be as strong – everyone has different gifts and there’s no need to compare yourself to others.
Just focus on using your own unique strengths to the best of your ability.
Like the Avengers, we all have different powers and we can use different strengths to complement each other
4. Expand Your Skill Set
We just discussed playing to your strengths. Therefore, it is logical that the more skills you have, the more certain you will be about the qualities you bring to the table.
After all, being successful in different areas of your life feels great! It is even better if those activities are difficult, so I encourage you to get out of your comfort zone.
In my case, it means:
- Pushing myself with different physical activities
- Attending workshops and investing in personal development
- Expanding into new business ventures
The approach you take is totally up to you, but you have to keep growing. Otherwise, you will fall behind, which WILL affect your confidence.
5. Build an Empowering Network
I’m sure you’ve heard it a thousand times in the entrepreneurial space:
YOUR NETWORK IS YOUR NET-WORTH
By the same token, your network can be pivotal to building your confidence in business as a woman.
One of the most important things you can do to build confidence in business is to network with other like-minded women. Attend industry events, join relevant online communities, and follow trailblazing women in your field on social media. Not only will this help you stay up-to-date on trends and developments, but it will also give you a much-needed sense of camaraderie and support. When you feel isolated, it’s hard to be confident. But when you have a community of strong women to lean on, anything feels possible.
6. Take Care of Yourself
Self-care and self-confidence go hand in hand.
There are plenty of ways to congratulate yourself for the small things like getting through a tough workout, clearing out your inbox, or tidying your space.
Make the time to put on nice clothes, do your hair, makeup, or nails. You know it always feels better when you get out of the sweats.
Finally, don’t be afraid to celebrate your successes, big and small. Too often, we downplay our accomplishments out of fear of seeming arrogant or entitled. But owning your successes is an essential part of building confidence. So go ahead and pat yourself on the back when you land a new client or close a big deal—you deserve it!
Self-care reminds yourself that you are important too. After all, isn’t knowing your value a big part of your confidence?
Start Building Your Confidence in Business
To sum up, I’ve given you a lot of information to get started building confidence in business as a woman.
Nonetheless, you might have noticed a lot of the strategies take some further steps on your part, which can be a little intimidating.
Don’t worry. I got you.
Hannah Engler
