Self-confidence

What is self-confidence?

That's a question many of us would like to answer.

And yet, we see it in our everyday lives: how many people have we come across who complain of lacking self-confidence? In fact, we can ask ourselves this question: "How confident am I?"

First of all, confidence means believing in or relying strongly on someone or something. Self-confidence can therefore be defined as believing in oneself and one's abilities, and will enable you to carry out projects outside your comfort zone. Let's face it, many people think that self-confidence means being full of oneself, a sign of pride or even arrogance.

Well, no, self-confidence can be hard to earn.

As with our muscles, we can work on and develop our self-confidence, in order to strengthen it. Sometimes this can be done alone, sometimes you can be accompanied.

How can I be confident without support?

Developing self-confidence means working on yourself. Rest assured, it's entirely possible to do it yourself. After all, we're never better served than by ourselves, are we?

First of all, the loss or lack of self-confidence generally stems from the failures we have experienced in our professional or private lives. And it doesn't get any better with society and the pressure it puts on us.

Here are a few tips to help you take the plunge:

• List your qualities! Take a moment to yourself, in a quiet, pleasant place. Take a nice notebook and list all your successes, everything you're proud of in your life. Opposite each item, write down the skills or qualities that have enabled you to succeed: these are your strengths, your superpowers in a way 😉
• Ask for feedback! Ask a few people you trust: "What qualities do you appreciate most in me? Can you give me a concrete example of a situation in which you observed these qualities in me?". Ask them to answer sincerely and sympathetically. They may cite qualities you've already identified in your list, but perhaps also qualities you hadn't thought of.
• Surround yourself with the right people! We can't say it enough, but it's important to surround yourself with people who give you energy, instead of taking it from you... They can encourage you to go further and get you out of your comfort zone. Generally speaking, group activities (associations, team sports, etc.), based on mutual aid and sharing, help to boost your self-confidence.
• Learn from your failures! Think back to your "failures". What did you learn? What would you do differently if you had it to do over again? Think of Nelson Mandela's famous phrase: "I never lose. Either I win, or I learn."
• Give yourself new challenges! And finally, set yourself a few small goals outside your comfort zone, prepare yourself and try to achieve them. If you succeed, you'll be proud of yourself. And if you don't, you'll have gained experience and developed your self-knowledge.

Guaranteed results: your self-confidence will be boosted!

You can also be accompanied on your quest for self-confidence. Our coaches are here to help and support you in this process, which is anything but trivial.

How can a coach help me regain my self-confidence?

A coach will support you in each of the above areas with a sympathetic ear. He or she will act as a mirror, helping you to see what you may not be able to see. He'll be by your side, encouraging you to move forward. Being accompanied by a coach is a personalized process that builds up gradually. A relationship of trust is gradually established with your coach, and talking to a professional will keep you motivated and moving forward. 

Among other things, it uses two impactful working methods:

• Self-positioning: the coach will first ask you to review your personal and professional background. He or she will ask you to highlight all your successes and proud moments, and then identify your strengths, skills and human qualities.
• 360° feedback : this involves submitting an anonymous questionnaire to the people you've chosen, to find out how they see you and your strengths. You'll be amazed at the results! We often have more qualities than we think!

‍

Coaching differs from therapeutic work in that it is action-oriented. The aim is for you to take action yourself. The coach will guide you, and it will be up to you to take action and develop your self-confidence.

As you can see, being accompanied by a coach to help you gain self-confidence will have a greater impact.  

Before we go any further, we think it's important to remind you that it's perfectly normal to lack self-confidence from time to time. The situation could become problematic if this lack of confidence becomes permanent and prevents you from moving forward in both your personal and professional life.

If you would like to be accompanied by a coach, click here so that we can discuss it together!