Self-confidence. Some have it, some don’t and some of us are somewhere in between. We’ve all heard of Imposter Syndrome and we all know someone with far too much confidence – so how do we find that middle ground where we have the confidence to forge ahead with our goals and ambitions, all the time making sure that we aren’t being thought of as arrogant or rude?
“Confidence is a state of being clear-headed either that a hypothesis or prediction is correct or that a chosen course of action is the best or most effective. Confidence comes from the Latin word 'fidere' which means "to trust"; therefore, having self-confidence is having trust in one's self.” I studied for an MA in Psychology way back when I was at university and often find that it serves me well when trying to understand people! That said, I’m no expert when it comes to personal development and confidence – I only know what I know and understand about myself.
I have however picked up a few tips over the years which it may be valuable to share:
- Know your topic – the more you know about something or prepare for a meeting or presentation, the more confident you will feel about it.
- Learn to say no – saying yes to something you would rather say no to can leave you feeling overburdened and resentful. By learning to say no we can genuinely take a weight off our own shoulders.
- Set yourself a challenge – if there is something you can’t do, or want to learn, set yourself a challenge. Achieving what you set out to achieve feels great and makes you feel more confident in your abilities.
- Share your concerns – whatever your worries, there are bound to be others who feel the same. Sharing can help to make you understand that you aren’t alone – and you might even pick up some tips along the way.
We also recommend the following practical ways to increase confidence – either in yourself or if you have team members who need a boost:
- If you are a woman working, or wanting to work within ANY aspect of the rural sector, get yourself signed up to the FREE ScotGov funded Be Your Best Self programme which is all about confidence, skills, strengths and networks. Find out more at www.beyourbestself.site
- If it’s skills you think you’re lacking, check out our OnFARM Academy - online courses for rural people, covering a wide spectrum of topics. With new courses being added all the time, there will be no excuse to say “Oh but I don’t understand that” or “I’ve no knowledge of this”. Particularly within the fields of PR and Marketing, the OnFARM Academy will help you upskill and gain confidence in new areas.
- Above all, be kind to yourself – only speak to yourself as you would speak to a friend. Would you tell him or her that they were useless or no good at something? Then don’t say that to yourself. Concentrate instead on thinking about the positives and the solutions and you’ll soar!
Have a super week.
Anna
