Without confidence, leadership is almost impossible. Company owners, managers, and supervisors need to be sure of their decisions at every juncture.
However, confidence has been in short supply during these uncertain times. Many businesses have been squarely reliant on external support, whether that’s direct funding or the easing of coronavirus-related restrictions. For a long time, nobody has known what the future holds.
Though things have slowly returned to normal, the consequences of the coronavirus will be felt for a long time. Companies need to prosper as they did pre-pandemic, and only a steady supply of competent leadership can restore that sense of former glory. Confidence plays a fundamental role in making all of that happen.
It’s a crucial time to be a leader in the corporate world. Here are 5 ways to help you build your confidence in your role.
Overcome Fear
As a business leader, you should never patiently wait for confidence to hit you suddenly. Instead, you should actively pursue it and earn that feeling.
Overcoming fear is the first thing you should do in that process. Otherwise, you will second-guess all of your decisions or refrain from making them entirely. You may be able to overcome business-related fear by:
- Setting your ego aside – Try not to make your leadership about you. Instead, focus on the needs of your customers, clients, and colleagues. When your priorities are in order, you may feel much more confident about your decision-making.
- Recording your goals – Whether you write down a list or make an audio recording, keeping track of your objectives can give you a truer sense of purpose. Self-belief may arise from that.
- Appreciate the smaller things – Leaders need to look at the business in its entirety. However, it would help if you tried not to lose sight of the little victories in your career. Maintain your sense of positivity and celebrate everything, whether it’s one good review or dozens of them.
- Don’t worry too much about smaller mistakes – You may be putting too much pressure on yourself as a business leader. You’re human first, and you’re not immune to the odd error or misunderstanding. Learn from those moments and move forward.
- Seeking counselling or therapy – Nobody is above some professional support. Leaders have many responsibilities on their shoulders, and confiding in an expert may ease anxieties.
Your relationship with fear can determine what type of leader you will be. Will the slightest turn of bad luck unravel you? Or, can you realise every aspect of your potential, keep things in perspective, and persevere?
Ask For Feedback
If you’re a leader with anxiety, then asking for feedback may shake your sense of confidence somewhat. However, if you’ve put the work in, you may receive a large show of support.
Try to gather a wide range of responses and consult numerous sources. Gathering feedback could involve:
- Creating and sharing internal surveys – If employees can open up about any issues they encounter, you can better serve them as their leader. Your efforts will be more focused, less time will be wasted, and you may encourage workers to remain loyal to your business
- Online feedback prompts – After a customer has made a purchase via your website, you can issue them with a prompt to rate your service. Their comments will be stored in a secure database, which means negative comments may not be shared publicly.
- Engaging mentor figures – If there is a businessperson in your life who has guided your efforts thus far, try to bring some of your problems to them. Remember, though you’re a leader, there will always be those who have more experience than you. Use that to your advantage.
- Creating a feedback folder – Collate all the praise you have received through your career into a comprehensive feedback folder. Your self-belief may come and go, but a resource like this may bring it all back.
If you have the right frame of mind, then even criticism can give you confidence. Constructive feedback can provide you with direction and reinforce your decision-making with sound reasoning. Leaders are also learners, so nurture that mentality through the comments you receive.
Enrol on a Communications Course
In addition to being strong learners, business leaders are also apt communicators. They influence positive change wherever they can.
Communication skills aren’t easy to master. Therefore, exploring a range of courses that could improve your communication skills may be worthwhile. An effective communication course can demand only 8-10 hours per week across a mere 8 weeks. After completing the materials, both you and your business should be in a far greater position than before.
Leaders are influential both within and beyond their own networks. You can only do this by refining your communication tools with both authenticity and integrity. Workers should follow your instructions not only because they’re contractually obliged to but also because they want to. In the end, a communications course can equip you with the skills to engage and inspire in a short period.
Keep in mind that you can recommend these courses to colleagues too. Great leaders are always on the lookout for leadership qualities in others and strive to let them flourish. Educational opportunities such as these could be instrumental in that goal.
Tweak Your Look
It may seem like a shallow point to make, but your appearance can affect your confidence. Therefore, ‘looking good’ can influence your prospects here.
Consider investing in a new well-tailored suit from a fine tailor. Of course, you should only do this if the dress code of your company allows it. Otherwise, some new clothes in a smart casual style should suffice nicely. Don’t forget your accessories, such as cufflinks and watches, as they can signify status too.
Of course, the popularity of formal dress codes is under constant scrutiny in recent times. Still, even without sophisticated outfits, a new haircut may go a long way, and a full-scale makeover could also embolden your sense of character. You could also dress for comfort on occasion, which may enhance your performance and, in turn, improve your sense of self-belief over time.
Remember that your look may also inspire people’s confidence in you too. First impressions count for a great deal in the business environment. Even if you are not wearing expensive attire, wearing an outfit you love most may cause you to radiate more charisma as well.
Nurture Personal Relationships
Few people can get through life without a support system in place. Often, your career will be complemented by the personal connections you have made along the way.
Leaders can also face insurmountable pressures in their roles. However, loved ones can provide a much-needed sense of calm and perspective.
For example, your friends and family can:
- Offer unconditional love and support, regardless of what decisions you make as a leader.
- Provide a reality check, keeping you grounded and humble as success comes your way.
- Give their honest opinion on situations you share, flagging potential mistakes or alternate points of view.
- Be part of your image as a leader, establishing you as a loving, caring individual within the ranks of your company.
Your family and friends can be crucial pillars of support during turbulent times. Leaders need to anchor themselves to something more than profit margins and business plans, and for many of them, loved ones fill that role.
Confidence is crucial for business leaders, but perspective, education, and even your relationships can help fuel your sense of self-belief.
