One of the key attributes of successful leaders is confidence. When you’re confident in yourself and your business, clients, suppliers, and competition will know they can rely on you. This fosters trust in your business, which can lead to more growth. But, confidence isn’t just something that appears, it’s learned and established over time. To help you get started, here are 11 habits of confident people that you can apply to your own life:

1. Know Yourself

Confident people have a true sense of self. They know what they like and dislike, and, they know what they’re good at and when to ask for help. It takes time to get to know yourself but make a point to figure out who you are, what you like, and where you want to go.

2. Don’t Overcomplicate Things

As you get to know yourself, it’ll be easier to know what you want in life. While it’s easy to procrastinate, set time aside and make a plan to achieve your goals. Once you have a roadmap in place, it’ll be that much easier and more exciting to get started.

3. Trust Your Instincts

In the book, Blink, famed author Malcolm Gladwell said, “There can be as much value in a blink of an eye as in months of rational analysis.” You know your business and yourself, trust what you know and stick to it.

4. Get Out of Your Comfort Zone

Nothing builds confidence like taking action. Start small, be careful not to overwhelm yourself in the beginning. You’ll see your confidence start to grow with each step you take.

You could even consider reaching out to peers and mentors and asking if they have tools or advice on overcoming your fears. They’ve been in your shoes before so they could offer great tips and insights.

5. View Challenges as Opportunities to Learn

Confident people aren’t immune to failure, they just don’t let it stop them. Next time you make a mistake or encounter a challenge, shift your perspective. View it as an opportunity to learn how to do the task differently and more successfully next time.

6. Be Careful of Your Language

Words are a powerful tool, as they can both disarm and inspire. This is true, even if you don’t speak the words aloud. 

Confident people question their self-doubts and analyze their self-talk. Instead of speaking badly about themselves, they try to approach things from different angles and inspire themselves to keep going. 

7. Don’t Demean Others

Just as confident people don’t dwell on failure or self-doubt, they also don’t speak negatively of others. Boosting someone else’s confidence is far more inspiring and uplifting than demeaning them, for both them and you. Plus, connecting with someone new could bring new, exciting opportunities your way.

8. Take Responsibility

Confident people don’t spend time blaming others for their misfortune, they look for solutions. They also admit their weakness and try to learn from their mistakes. Whether they’re reflecting on their missteps or learning from others, confident people digest, accept, and overcome. 

9. Don’t Take Others’ Opinions to Heart

Entrepreneurship can sometimes be overwhelming. You may have people in your life who are overly cautious and not very encouraging. While it’s important to listen to those people, don’t take it to heart. You know yourself and your business, have confidence in that.

10. Dedicate Your Energy to Things That Matter Most

Confident people know when to say no. They’re careful not to spread themselves too thin and save time and energy for their priorities. In the end, people will respect you more for it and know that you’ll have much to contribute when you say yes.

11. Be Conscious of Your Body Language

Body language can make you feel more confident and make others see you that way as well. Try to have good posture, make eye contact, and listen actively. These small adjustments will give you and your audience a confidence boost.

Remember, building self-assurance takes time. Keep these habits of confident people in mind in your personal life and business. The more you practice, the easier it becomes.

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