Don’t lie to yourself. Grounded confidence starts with telling the truth.
Confidence killer
- inactivity
- Endless reassurance.
- Thought without action.
- Avoid discomfort.
- Comparing yourself to others.
- hiding mistakes
Grounded confidence requires courage to act and humility to learn.
Blue-collar confidence
“People always talk about talent. But what they don’t want to talk about is loneliness. An empty gym doing the same thing over and over again. No applause, no crowd.” Larry Bird
Bird is the only person in NBA history to win:
- Rookie of the Year
- Most Valuable Player
- Finals MVP
- All-Star MVP
- Coach of the Year
- Executive of the Year
Build grounded confidence
#1 Do the hard thing
“When I stepped on the court, I wasn’t there expecting to win. It’s not about talking yourself up. It’s about knowing that you outlast every single person in that room.”
Simple things make you weak. Stretch yourself out.
Answers to action concerns.
Action item: Do something you’ve been putting off.
#2. Record your win
Action Item: List three achievable goals each day. Check them off when you reach them.
#3. prepare
Preparation softens doubts.
Action item:
- Rehearse the conversation.
- Study before the meeting.
#4. Speak clearly
Doubt kills confidence.
Action item:
- Slow down your speech.
- Say fewer words.
- complete the sentence.
- Don’t be restless.
#5. Compare yourself to yourself
Measure progress against yesterday, not others.
Action item: Keep a journal.
#6. Find an honest person
False praise creates poor self-confidence.
Action item:
- Ask for feedback.
- Keep those who challenge you.
#7. Turn outwards
Don’t focus on yourself. Serve others.
Action item: Help someone succeed today.
bonus: Change from “I’m terrible” to “I’m learning”.
Challenge: Build grounded trust in others.
Resources:
3 Tips for Building Confidence in Timid Team Members
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Previously published With lead free on Creative Commons License
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