The Why and How of Self-Confidence

If we could sell it, we’d be the richest people on earth. It’s valuable and priceless and most definitely not for sale. But it makes a person great at being able to sell. It’s self-confidence and the subject of a recent New York Times article by Eric Ravenscraft.

He points out that self-confidence is a “view of how likely you are to accomplish a goal, especially based on your past experience.” This is different from self -efficacy (“belief in your ability to accomplish specific tasks”) and self-esteem (“belief in your overall worth”).

Charlie Houpert, the author of “Charisma on Command” says that “confidence doesn’t just make you feel better, it also helps you take risks to make tangible improvements to your life.” And he offers these tips to improving self-confidence:

Be ‘hyper honest’ with yourself – Houpert says “When you stop hiding parts of yourself from other people, you’ll find you feel more confident in who you are.”

Start working out – “Many people start working out to lose weight or build muscle, but exercise can also be a huge boost to your self-confidence.”

Try things that make you uncomfortable – “If you stretch your comfort zone every day, very quickly you’ll have a large comfort zone and be able to feel more comfortable even when outside of it.”

Try a new look – “How you dress can affect how other people perceive you, but it can also affect how you perceive yourself.”

Adjust your posture – “While it might feel a little silly at first, trying out powerful stances can help adjust your frame of mind.”

According to psychologist Amy Cuddy from Harvard as quoted in Business Insider, “people quickly answer two questions when they first meet you: Can I trust this person? Can I respect this person?”