Improve Your Self-Confidence Instantly With These 10 Easy Steps

The way to develop self-confidence is to do the thing you fear and get a record of successful experiences behind you. ~William Jennings Bryan

COMPREception:
Belief in self is a pillar of self-confidence. It describes what needs to be done to get something as seemingly intangible as self-confidence. 

You get belief through the opinions of others, your accomplishments and the work you’ve put in studying and applying success principles. 

The other legs of the stool are self-esteem and self-worth. Confidence means you believe you can handle any situation that confronts you, which in turn increases self-esteem and bolsters self-worth. These work in unison to provide the intangible concept labeled self-confidence.

Feeling out of control in a situation that should feel comfortable is a terrible place to be.  I remember early in my career sitting at board meetings with the president of the company and being terrified that I might be asked question I couldn’t answer. 

Fortunately, I found these ten tips just weeks before I had to give a presentation to that same board. I practiced them and began to see results immediately. Things were not perfect during the presentation, but at least I wasn’t frightened or intimated. 

Developing self-confidence and self-esteem are easy when you know how.  Here are 10 tips to boast your self-confidence immediately.

1. Get dressed up. When you polish your appearance you set yourself apart from everyone around you.  First impressions do have a bearing on how people respond to you.
2. Walk about 25% faster than those around you. You're on a mission so your carriage should reflect your attitude.
3. Develop a personal achievement elevator speech.  This is a one to three minute speech about your strengths, abilities and ambitions.  Use it as a confidence booster and as a personal advertisement.
4. Practice focusing on gratitude by writing down five-ten things that you are grateful for in life. Write a sentence using each of these subjects: (1) gratitude; (2) opportunity ;(3) did; (4) do; (5) appreciate…to start.
5. Take your eyes off yourself and put them on other people. Give out genuine compliments and smiles. Make someone feel better having been around you.
6. Increase your self-confidence, get into the good graces of the speaker and put yourself in the eye of the most important people by sitting up front.  Never ever sit in the back of the room when there is an opportunity to sit up front.
7. Be the first one to speak up in a group situation. People will psychologically defer to you as the most knowledgeable person in the room. You'll also grow your self-confidence.
8. Be sure to include physical fitness goals as part of your personal development plan. Nothing relieves stress, clears the mind, and makes you feel more attractive and well than following through on your fitness plans.
9. Make contributions wherever possible. You’ve really got to give to get. Always look for the opportunity to serve others and make worthwhile contributions.
10. Back straight, shoulders slightly forward.  Are you paying attention to your posture? Are you sitting erect, offering a firm hand shake and maintaining eye contact?

Take notice of the people who have the type of self-assurance and confidence you admire. You'll find them practicing several of the above characteristics. Practicing these tips will improve your self-confidence, self-esteem and self-worth instantly.