Confidence Building

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Quick Test-How Self-Confident Are You?

For each statement, Please answer questions as you actually are (rather than how you think you should be), and don't worry if some questions seem to score in the 'wrong direction'. When you are finished, Total your score. Give marks as mentioned below.

For not at all-1, Rarely-2, Sometimes-3, Often-4, Very often-5

Statement 1 I tend to do what I think is expected of me, rather than what I believe to be "right." 2 I handle new situations with relative comfort and ease. 3 I feel positive and energized about life. 4 If something looks difficult, I avoid doing it. 5 I keep trying, even after others have given up. 6 If I work hard to solve a problem, I'll find the answer. 7 I achieve the goals I set for myself. 8 When I face difficulty, I feel hopeless and negative. 9 I relate to people who work very hard, and still don't accomplish their goals. 10 People give me positive feedback on my work and achievements. 11 I need to experience success early in a process, or I won't continue. 12 When I overcome an obstacle, I think about the lessons I've learned. 13 I believe that if I work hard, I'll achieve my goals. 14 I have contact with people of similar skills and experience who I consider successful. Not Some Very Rarely Often at all times Often

Score Interpretation
Score 14-32 Comment You probably wish you had more self-confidence! Take a closer look at all the things you've achieved in your life. You may tend to focus more on what you don't have, and this takes time and attention away from recognizing and using your skills and talents. You're doing an OK job of recognizing your skills, and believing in your abilities. But perhaps youre a little too hard on yourself, and this may stop you from getting the full benefit of your mastery experiences. Excellent! You're doing a fabulous job of learning from every experience, and not allowing obstacles to affect the way you see yourself. But you need to nurture your self-confidence,

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The good news is that building self-confidence is readily achievable, just as long as we have the focus and determination to carry things through. And whats even better is that the things well do to build self-confidence will also build success after all, our confidence will come from real, solid achievement. No-one can take his away from us!

Step 1: Preparing for Your Journey

The first step involves getting yourself ready for your journey to selfconfidence. You need to take stock of where you are, think about where you want to go, get yourself in the right mindset for your journey, and commit yourself to starting it and staying with it. In preparing for your journey, do these five things:

Look at What You've Already Achieved

Think about your life so far, and list the ten best things you've achieved in an "Achievement Log Put these into a smartly formatted document, which you can look at often. And then spend a few minutes each week enjoying the success youve already had!

Think About Your Strengths

Next, use a technique like SWOT Analysis to take a look at who and where you are. Think about your strengths and weaknesses. From these, think

about the opportunities and threats you face. Make sure that you enjoy a few minutes reflecting on your strengths!

Next, think about the things that are really important to you, and what you want to achieve with your life. Setting and achieving goals is a key part of this, and real self-confidence comes from this.

Think About What's Important to You, and Where you Want to Go

Start Managing Your Mind

At this stage, you need to start managing your mind. Learn to pick up and defeat the negative self-talks which can destroy your confidence.

And Then Commit Yourself to Success!

The final part of preparing for the journey is to make a clear promise to yourself that you are absolutely committed to your journey, and that you will do all in your power to achieve it.

Self-confidence is about balance. At one extreme, we have people with low self-confidence. At the other end, we have people who may be over-confident. If you are under-confident, youll avoid taking risks and stretching yourself; and you might not try at all. And if youre over-confident, you may take on too much risk, stretch yourself beyond your capabilities, and crash badly.

Step 2: Setting Out

This is where you start, ever so slowly, moving towards your goal. By doing the right things, and starting with small, easy wins, youll put yourself on the path to success and start building the self-confidence that comes with this.

Build the Knowledge you Need to Succeed

Looking at your goals, identify the skills youll need to achieve them. And then look at how you can acquire these skills confidently and well. Look for a solution, a program or a course that fully equips you to achieve what you want to achieve and, ideally, gives you a certificate or qualification you can be proud of.

 Focus on the Basics

When youre starting, dont try to do anything clever or elaborate. And dont reach for perfection just enjoy doing simple things successfully and well.

Set Small Goals, and Achieve Them

Starting with the very small goals you identified in step 1, get in the habit of setting them, achieving them, and celebrating that achievement. Dont make goals particularly challenging at this stage. And, little by little, start piling up the successes!

Keep Managing Your Mind

keep those mental images strong. And on the other side, learn to handle failure. Accept that mistakes happen when youre trying something new. In fact, if you get into the habit of treating mistakes as learning experiences, you can (almost) start to see them in a positive light. After all, theres a lot to be said for the saying if it doesnt kill you, it makes you stronger!

Step 3: Accelerating Towards Success

By this stage, youll feel your self-confidence building. This is the time to start stretching yourself. Make the goals a bit bigger and the challenges a bit tougher. Increase the size of your commitment. And extend the skills . Tip: Keep yourself grounded this is where people tend to get over-confident and over-stretch themselves.