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Hello. I'm James Manktelow, CEO of MindTools.com, home to hundreds of free career-building tools
and resources.
And I'm Amy Carlson from Mind Tools. A lack of confidence can have a serious negative
effect on your career. It's hard to convince others of your ability when you feel like
a bag of nerves inside. The good news is, self-confidence can actually be learned. It
takes time and effort, but it's worth it - for the huge difference it will make to your life.
There are three steps to building your self-confidence. The first involves getting ready for what
can be compared with a "journey." You need to take stock of where you are, and think
carefully about where you want to go. Start by making a log of your top achievements so
far. Lay these out in a well-formatted document, and look at them often, so you can enjoy the
success you've already had.
In this preparation stage, it also helps to set some targets -- or goals -- to clarify
what you want from your life and career. Your goals should be both long-term and short-term,
and you should be able to measure them, to get a real sense of what you've achieved.
You can find out more about goal setting at MindTools.com.
The last part of the preparation stage is to get into the right mindset. You need to
be aware of any negative thoughts that may destroy your confidence -- and nip them in
the bud. Make a clear promise to yourself that you're absolutely committed to this journey
to self-confidence, and vow to do everything in your power to get there.
Stage two is about setting out on that journey. Take small steps to achieve your goals. For
example, if you need to learn some new skills, take a class. Just focus on doing simple things
well.
In stage three, you can begin to see the process working. You'll be able to feel your self-confidence
build as you achieve your small goals, one by one. In time, you'll be able to stretch
yourself. Make your goals a bit bigger and your challenges a little tougher. The more
you achieve, the more confident you'll feel.
Throughout this whole process, it's important to stay grounded in reality. Self-confidence
is a great asset, but over-confidence can be just as destructive as no confidence at
all. So make sure you get the balance right.