Sureness can come in many guises and doesn’t have to be “in your face” to be effective. We explore the type of attitude you can adopt to succeed
Confidence is important for shaping the career that you desire, building enriching relationships and commanding the respect you deserve. It’s also one of those intangible traits that helps you bounce back from defeat.
It’s likely you’ll be challenged to handle conflicts in your career or personal life and this is where you most need to maintain your confidence. This mindset can be hard, but focusing on the value you provide and conveying that to others will manifest feelings of greater self-worth, even if you don’t always believe it yourself.
Assertive doesn’t mean you’re aggressive
Exuding the belief that you deserve the opportunities that come your way can certainly contribute to an upward career trajectory. But sometimes this is easier said than done. Too often women fear that appearing assertive or confident is interpreted as ‘aggressive’.
It’s a mystery as to why not everyone holds admiration for those who back themselves and their own values, says The New Kid founder and 2014 Rexona Clinical Pitch Off joint-winner Marnie Shanahan. The way in which you choose to communicate that confidence and assert your view is what’s important.
Fellow entrepreneur and MudPie founder Sonali Hedditch also perceives this stereotype.
“The problem isn’t women being aggressive – it’s the judgement that comes, both from men and other women. The only way to dilute this judgement is to make confident and assertive women the norm. I’d encourage all women to speak up and retain that confidence.”
Stop doubting yourself
It’s commonly discussed that women, more so than men, consistently underestimate their abilities. Many talented women rarely grasp that one of the biggest hurdles they’ll have to overcome lies within.
When you start feeling unsure of yourself, ask yourself what you have to lose, advises Shanahan. Are you being bold or limiting your experiences?
If you have doubts, at the very least, find someone that you can talk to about it, says Shanahan.
“Then you will hopefully find the courage to face the issue rather than prolong the worrying.”
Change up your attitude
Identifying what is causing you to feel uncertain, then making it a priority to implement constructive ways to change that, will help you develop a positive and determined attitude.
Whether it’s socialising with friends, spending time alone or starting a regular exercise routine, boosting your productivity will help put things into perspective and often improve your sense of self-worth.
“I believe that for both women and men, having an authentic, honest, and open-minded attitude will allow you to be yourself in your work environment, and that will translate into happiness and success,” says Shanahan.
It’s completely natural to have periods of nervousness.
“But that’s also a good thing right?” says Hedditch. “I think the adrenalin rush that comes from nerves can help me perform better, and the nerves are also a sign I’m really vested in something and want to do well!”
Understand what happiness means to you
Taking the time to become self-aware will help you stay connected to your true sense of self and aspirations as you change and grow.
“What happiness and success looks like changes with age, experience and sometimes expected and unexpected circumstances,” says Hedditch. “I have redefined my happiness and success a number of times and my career trajectory reflects that. What has allowed me to redirect is to remain flexible and true to myself – my passions, my values and my circumstances, all of which have evolved.”
Rexona Clinical can help you feel confident in your important moments.
Written by: Thea Christie