Defining
Confidence
You know a
confident person when you see one. They are cool and self-assured. Confidence is the belief that
you can do what you set out to do. It is a trust in the self and certainty in
one's abilities. It may seem like a skill that is arbitrarily handed out to
some and not to others, but in truth, anyone can become more confident. In
psychology, we use another word for confidence; it is
self-efficacy. Whatever you call it, it plays a big role in your
success so understanding the components that lead to confidence can transform
your life.
A Framework for Building Confidence
Albert Bandura, the psychologist who came up with the concept of
self-efficacy also identified four sources of efficacy
beliefs or beliefs that lead to confidence. The first if these is mastery experiences,
or gaining personal success in some area. For example, if your band plays a
show at a local festival or your article gets published, you will have a direct
experience of success that will fuel confidence. I always say that the best way
to become more confident is by taking action. Even if you fall short of the
goal, you know where you need to grow and are better equipped to try again.
Conversely, inaction can be debilitating and can lead to that dreaded analysis
paralysis, in which you take no action because you get too caught in thoughts
of the possible outcomes. Experiencing challenges and subsequent success is the
best, and most direct way to build confidence. The process of working through a
challenge and achieving a successful outcome will build the belief that you can
do it again in the future.
Another
way to boost confidence according to Bandura was through vicarious experiences. This
means that when people you know are successful at something, you
have greater confidence in your ability to achieve success. This
source of belief is not quite as strong as direct experience, but it is
helpful, as is verbal
persuasion. When people you admire and respect tell you that
they believe you have the ability to achieve or master an activity, it can be a
powerful confidence builder. Finally, Bandura believed that emotional and psychological states have
an impact on self-efficacy. Anxiety, stress, and depression can seriously
diminish confidence. On the other hand, joy and excitement can increase
it. Psychologist James Maddux added to this Bandura's list the idea that
visualizing success can also boost confidence.
The
Physiology of Confidence
In Amy Cuddy's powerful TED Talk about body language, she
talks about how your body language can change your physiology. She notes that
confidence can be boosted with certain physical positions. Her research taught
her that when people have power or feel powerful, they spread out while those
who are shy tend to clench up and make themselves look smaller. This makes
sense, but what was more interesting was that her team proved that by mirroring
the physical behaviors of power, people actually become more powerful.
Essentially, body language can change the levels of hormones in the
body. Leaders and other powerful people tend to have high testosterone
and low cortisol. Standing and sitting in high power, confident poses
can create in the body, the physical conditions of confidence and
success. Within two minutes of adopting a power pose, hormones change
to match the stance.
Modeling
the Behaviors of Confident People
One method
that is very helpful for developing
a more confident mindset is
to mirror the behaviors of confident and successful people. Often, as you compare these behaviors
to your own, you will find great ways
to become a more assured version of you. I like this method because it allows
you to build gradually by adopting the behaviors that make sense and feel authentic. So what do
successful people do?
- Practice optimism
- Take meaningful and decisive action
- Embrace challenges and try new things
- Say yes and no with equal comfort
- Own their successes and focus on their strengths
- See failures as opportunities for growth
- Compare themselves to their past selves, instead of to comparing themselves to others
- have a growth-mindset and continue to learn new skills
- Trust themselves and their judgment
- Celebrate the successes of others
- When they don't understand something, they ask for help
Confidence
leads to empowerment and prosperity. Without confidence, you may miss
important opportunities and fail to ask for what you deserve. To sum
it up, there are many ways that you can foster a more confident attitude.
First, you can boost confidence by experiencing success, or even through
unsuccessful situations that teach you how to succeed in the future and enable
you to develop positive self-appraisals. You can also increase self-efficacy
through vicarious experience and positive role models. Verbal encouragement or
persuasion from someone you respect can drive confident behavior as can
cultivating positive emotional states and the proper management of negative
emotions. Visualization of the desired outcome can help you establish the
confidence that it can be achieved. Another great way is to change your body's
chemistry to more confident levels, is by adopting a powerful stance for a
few minutes before you have to take action. Modeling the behaviors of confident
and successful people can help you increase your confidence. Whichever
methods you choose, you will not be sorry. This is one skill that can
significantly increase your well-being and success.
Want help building confidence?
Formerly on staff at the Tulane University Student
Health Center Department of Psychiatry, helping emerging
adults uncover the best path to success is my passion, I am a professional
psychotherapist, and also specialize in academic, success, and life
coaching. I work primarily with college students and young professionals.
I would love to put my expertise as a certified success coach to work for you.
Sincerely,
Dr.
Eileen WynneLet's connect!Facebook | Twitter | LinkedIn