How Confident Do You Seem to Others?

Do you marvel at people who seem highly self-confident? From the quietly confident expert whose advice we rely on, to the charismatic confidence of an inspiring speaker, self-confident people have qualities we all admire.

My Webster’s 1828 Dictionary defines self-confidence as: Trust; reliance; applied to one’s own abilities, or fortune; belief in one’s own competency.

Self-confidence is extremely important in almost every aspect of our lives, and people who lack it can find it difficult to become successful. After all, most people are reluctant to support a plan pitched by someone who is apprehensive, bumbling, and overly apologetic. Then again, you might be persuaded by someone who speaks clearly, who comfortably holds his or her head high, who assuredly answers questions, and who readily admits when he or she does not know something. Their self-confidence inspires confidence in others – and gaining the confidence of others is one of the key ways in which a self-confident person finds success.

So … how confident do you seem to others?

The good news is that self-confidence really can be developed. View it as a journey that begins with identifying something you’d like to become more confident in and then being disciplined in practicing it. The secret lies in being obedient to the unenforceable. It is self-discipline that opens the door to self-discovery – the realization you can do (and enjoy) something you once thought you could not. It is this self-discovery that breeds self-confidence. Your new found self-confidence develops into self-competence and self-competence ultimately leads to self-mastery.

Whether you’re working on your own confidence or developing the confidence of people around you, the journey is well-worth the effort!