This is the first in a series of articles about Building Confidence and Assertiveness
This series of articles will help you in the following ways:
- Define confidence and assertiveness
- Identify the characteristics of a confident individual
- Determine the barriers to success
- Recognize powerful tools to gain confidence
- Successfully project and communicate confidence to others
- Determine ways to gain personal empowerment
- Explore techniques to remain confident and assertive during difficult situations
- Identify ways to build confidence in others
Strengthening your self-confidence is a powerful step in shaping your life and creating future success. The ability to be confident and assertive are crucial skills for personal development, displaying authority in business, and promoting equality throughout interactions. Essentially, these skills have a significant influence on building a happy life.
Through effective communication, visualization, and resiliency, we can learn to be confident and project an image of confidence to others. When stressful or difficult situations arise, you have the ability to control your own responses and how you choose to move forward.
Building Confidence and Assertiveness will provide you with the tools to overcome fear, gain personal empowerment, and inspire confidence in others. By believing in your potential and the positive changes that you can make, you are able to grow personally and professionally.
Understanding Confidence
Let’s start by stating what confidence and assertiveness is not.
It is not a proud, haughty attitude that tends to bully or put down others. It is not an aggressive, belligerent approach to others. This kind of attitude is often counter productive.
Confidence is the feeling of positive regard and belief in oneself, as well as in one’s own abilities. It plays a significant role in the ability to meet or exceed potential. Feelings of confidence inspire our choices that will shape our future, and helps to provides stability when challenging situations arise. Self-beliefs will make a difference in whether a situation is successful or not. A self-confident individual is able to control their own thoughts and emotions, while influencing those around them. Ultimately, optimism and greater life satisfaction is achieved.
Self-confidence often comes from successful experiences; accordingly, it will also lead to achieving additional successful experiences. There’s great value in being able to place healthy boundaries on our professional and personal lives. It allows us to gain more control of the situations we are faced with each day, and maintain a positive attitude. Without confidence, it can be difficult to focus on future successes and personal development. Confidence and assertiveness are skills that are important for everyone.
Assertiveness
Assertiveness is the ability to communicate the confidence that is built. Being assertive is not about dominance, but rather expressing opinions in a positive, respectful, and confident manner. It involves knowing what we want, as well as what boundaries need to be set. Assertive individuals are clear and direct, without being aggressive. This key skill will help to better manage difficult situations, people, and oneself. By building assertiveness, we are building our voice to be heard.
Our next article will discuss
- Types of confidence
- The Benefits of Assertiveness
- Distinguishing the styles
To take the Buikding Confidence and Assertiveness course, visit Human Skills Development
