Taking positive, decisive action can increase your confidence and help you to change your direction in life. You'll also learn a lot about yourself by tackling things head on.
1. Try new things
Take risks and do new things, or things you feel you might not be good at. If you do better than you expected, you'll feel great; and even if you don't succeed, at least you you'll have given it a go. Taking risks and trying new things helps you develop and move forward.
2. Take a confidence-building course
You can search our database for courses to help you improve your self-confidence. Use the keywords confidence building and assertiveness.
3. Set yourself a challenge
Set yourself a challenge in an area in which you need to gain confidence. This will help you to learn to cope with challenging situations.
4. Stop trying to please
Be confident in your opinions and actions, and be prepared to explain them to anyone who may not agree with you. Don't say what you think others want you to say - be your own person.
5. Learn to say no
Do this assertively but tactfully, saying no and explaining why you can't do it.
6. Gain confidence from different areas of your life
Don't depend on just one aspect of your life to gain your self-worth. For example, if you rely heavily on your job for self-esteem, and if you lose your job or it changes, it might affect your confidence more than it should do. Do things that make you feel good in all aspects of your life, so you have positives to fall back on if unexpected events happen.
7. Set goals
Be clear which areas you want to work on and what you want to achieve. Your goals should be realistic and specific, but flexible enough to adjust to unexpected developments.
8. Take small steps
When setting goals break them down into long-term and short-term goals. Short-term goals should be steps towards the long-term goals. For instance your long-term goal could be to change career; your short-term goals could be to research job opportunities, see a careers advisor and improve your skills by doing a course. Taking small steps builds confidence, and makes you feel like you're moving forward and gaining momentum.
Where can I get help and advice?
Careers Advice Service Career Coaches can advise you on how to improve your self-confidence. You can either call free on 0800 100 900 or you can:
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