Confidence Tricks

A confident woman says she can do the job, she looks like she can do the job — and to those in her presence, she gives the impression she will do it well.

But confidence can be a fleeting emotion. Sometimes we have it and sometimes it deserts us. But, certainly, in the workplace, it is important to appear to know what you're doing.

Believe in yourself

If you aspire to top positions, you have to believe in yourself and your decisions.

You have to be sure of yourself to gain the respect of the staff. But like all things in life, it comes with practice.

So keep plugging away at it and I promise that one day, it will come naturally.

But if you're suffering from self-doubt, here are some handy hints to help you radiate positivity and set you on the path to achieving your career goals.

Confidence is internal. If you think you have it, you do!
Not everyone will agree with you all the time. Not everyone will like you.

You are not responsible for everyone's views. You can only explain your point of view and be prepared to listen and try to understand those of others.

Stand tall. Shoulders back, head up. You look much better!
Take care of your appearance.

There is no excuse these days for not looking well groomed. If you are happy with the way you look, self-confidence will come naturally.

Beat those nerves. Think of a confident person that you admire and pretend to be them.

Be positive. If you think things will turn out well, cover all bases and they probably will.

Exercise at the end of the day. It is a great morale booster and stressbuster.

Tell yourself that you are great. If you have a trumpet, blow it. Don't wait for others to tell you that you are amazing.

Avoid negative, complaining people. They will complain about you because they complain about everything.

Have fun. Enjoy life. Do your own thing, you dont have to behave like everyone else. You can be unique.

Confidence is attractive. But never base confidence on looks. Beauty is a gift — but it is certainly not everything.

— Alva Carpenter is a UK-based freelance writer

Managing your life

Avoid sending yourself negative signals such as:

• I'm just not very smart.
  
• I'm not as good as the other people I'm competing with.
  
• I can't change, I am who I am.
  
• If I become more confident, people won't like me.

You need a balance between home and work. When your life becomes unbalanced, you risk getting stressed.

And if people treat you in an undesirable way, you can figure out what you are doing to allow this to happen. Don't be passive and expect that life will come to your door.

Don't be afraid to fail; we all fail sometimes but you can only succeed if you try. When you are doing a job you enjoy, it is not tiring — it is fun and intriguing.

The moral is: If life isn't giving you what you want, you have to change. The answer lies within you!