3 Smart Ways to Increase Your Confidence And Income

“I have been working for three years as a junior accountant at an advertising agency and have not been promoted ever since. Fresh people have come after me and have gotten promotions. I am a hard worker; I leave work very late and get in very early; however, I am shy, and everyone who has been promoted is very outgoing,” says James.

“I fear answering the salary question during interviews, and as a result, I feel like I always end up accepting a salary that is lower than what I would get if I just negotiated,” says Kate.

What do James and Kate have in common? They lack confidence. Lacking confidence can cost you growth opportunities and prevent you from going after what you want.

To avoid being in the same situation as James and Kate, you can use the tips below to build your confidence and income as a professional.

1. Get out there

Do you avoid attending social functions just because you fear interacting with people? Are you always saying no to events that push you out of your comfort zone?

If yes, an excellent way to build confidence is to put yourself in those uncomfortable situations. You can only overcome your fear by facing it.

For example, you can attend social events such as work events, where you must socialise with strangers.

2. Get a mentor or coach

Do you have someone you admire when it comes to their confidence? An excellent way to improve your confidence is to get someone to help you.

For example, you can get a career coach, interview coach, or someone willing to help you build your confidence.

With a mentor, you not only get tips on how to build your confidence, but you also get the chance to practice aspects like learning how to make a speech or pitch your ideas.

3. Be prepared

Think about it: if you don’t study well, you won’t have much confidence in passing the exam. The same applies to life in general.

If you don’t feel prepared for that presentation, you won’t have the confidence to do it; if you don’t feel ready for that interview, you won’t have confidence in your ability to pass it.

If you have a presentation to make, practice it in the mirror or in front of your friends. If you need to make a speech, write it down and go through it as much as you can.

In conclusion,

Self-confidence is essential for everything. Being confident will help you talk to that stranger at a social event who could recommend you for your next job, speak up in meetings and get noticed by your boss, lead to promotion, and pass interviews because you believe in your abilities.

Success is all about having the right mindset. You cannot succeed if you let fear keep you from going after what you want, and the only way to defeat fear is to gain confidence in yourself and your work.