Confidence doesn’t come naturally to everyone. And even if it does, it can diminish over time. That’s especially the case for entrepreneurs. Running a business can be stressful and demanding, eating away your self-esteem if you’re not careful.
If you’re thinking of starting a business, or are already running your own business but need some practical tips on growing your entrepreneurial confidence, keep reading to find out our recommendations.
1. Get out of your comfort zone
Our first suggestion for growing your confidence is to step out of your comfort zone – and get used to being there. As an entrepreneur, you’ll often find yourself in uncomfortable situations and be faced with your fair share of difficult decisions.
For example, you might have to turn down a potential recruit or encounter a disagreement with a colleague. So, before starting your business, it’s good practice to actively put yourself in challenging scenarios in your everyday life and grow accustomed to dealing with them.
Start small if this is all entirely new for you. Maybe you can try an unusual ingredient or dish you haven’t had before. Or if you want to overcome a social discomfort, such as meeting new people, why not attend a networking event?
Nothing big – don’t go straight to an international conference. But maybe a coffee morning with some of your local entrepreneurs might help make you feel more confident.
Remember to push your boundaries in small increments. Once that initial challenge becomes a breeze, that’s your cue to move the goalpost further away.
The idea is to take calculated risks. This will expand your comfort zone and grow your entrepreneurial confidence.
2. Practice makes perfect
Continuous practice is a tried and tested way to grow your confidence. It can be tempting to shy away from the things you’re not good at, but without addressing your weaknesses, you’ll never improve.
Think about any particular soft skills you’d like to work on before becoming an entrepreneur and simply practice, practice, practice. Let’s say you want to get better at public speaking. Perform mock presentations to yourself in the mirror, or in front of a trusted audience of friends and family.
Or, if you want to improve your time management skills, create a to-do list with clear deadlines, or challenge yourself to arrive 10 minutes early for appointments.
Essentially, you’re trying to change your habits here. This can be difficult, but remember that practice makes perfect, so don’t give up. Keep trying; each step will gradually become easier, thus building your experience and growing your entrepreneurial confidence.
3. Keep learning
Another way to boost your confidence is through continuous learning. This is a common trait among the world’s most successful business leaders. You could:
- Read books about other entrepreneurs’ journeys and their top tips
- Read articles on self-development techniques
- Watch videos about topics relevant to your industry
- Listen to business podcasts
- Engage in networking events
- Attend educational seminars
Whatever method you find easiest to learn, you should prioritise your professional education and incorporate it into your daily routine. Maybe you listen to your favourite podcast during a workout, or dedicate an hour to reading before bed.
Continuous learning is a powerful way to combat feelings of low self-esteem and become more confident in your abilities as an individual and entrepreneur. It can also help fight any symptoms of impostor syndrome, a condition of chronic self-doubt that a poll by NerdWallet shows affects a staggering 78% of UK business owners.
4. Dress the part
There’s a concept called fashion psychology. It’s the idea that the way we dress influences our cognitive processes. This theory claims that when you dress in a way that aligns with your goals and aspirations, your mindset shifts to match.
So, if you want to feel more confident, you should wear clothes that make you feel that way. It’s like wearing a fancy suit or a designer dress – you feel powerful and invincible, like slipping into a superhero suit.
We’re not saying you must invest in designer clothing to grow your entrepreneurial confidence; simply dress for success. Pick out your favourite shirt, or those shoes you always save for a special occasion – anything that makes you feel positive about yourself. When you feel confident, others will also see you that way.
Remember to stay professional. Opt for formal or smart/casual outfits over casualwear to harness feelings of authority, courage, and tenacity. However, don’t hesitate to embrace your personal style, too. By all means, wear your favourite colours, try unique prints, and add your favourite accessories.
Self-expression and personalised touches are essential in fashion psychology. They make you stand out, highlight your strengths and qualities, and boost your entrepreneurial confidence.
5. Accept failure
Failures can be a huge setback, and they can really knock your confidence. But as an entrepreneur, you’ll realise that failure is just a part of the job. No matter how much you plan, prepare, and research, the future is unpredictable.
Sure, we’d all like our lives to be smooth sailing, but to grow and maintain your confidence, it’s crucial to embrace failure when it happens and learn from your mistakes.
The trick is to cultivate a positive mindset. Don’t consider it a failure but a step closer to success.
If it’s a small mistake, don’t waste time dwelling on it. Let it go and move on. If it’s a more significant error, face the problem head-on and analyse it.
Ask yourself what went wrong and why, if there was anything you or anyone else could’ve done to avoid the failure, and how you’d approach the situation differently in the future. That way, you’ll build your resilience and become a confident entrepreneur.
6. Remind yourself about your strengths
When we lack confidence, seeing ourselves in a positive light can be challenging. It’s certainly easier to be kind and supportive to others than ourselves. Instead, we tend to be our own harshest judges.
But a negative self-perception will significantly hold you back from entrepreneurial success. So, to grow your entrepreneurial confidence and optimism, remind yourself about your strengths and appreciate how they will benefit you in your new career as a business owner.
Maybe you’re creative, have strong IT skills, or communicate well with others. It also helps to remember previous accomplishments and congratulate yourself on your past efforts.
Acknowledging your strengths is a great way to feel better about your capabilities, and negate any negative self-talk that might be halting your progress. Be sure to treat yourself the way you would a friend or loved one and give yourself credit where it’s due. This will help you develop a confident mindset and equip you with the mental strength to pursue your entrepreneurial dreams.
7. Learn to say “no”
Many of us are eager to please. It’s in our nature. We agree to take on extra work beyond our capacity, accept invitations to events we don’t want to attend, and say “yes” when someone asks for an unreasonable favour.
While we’re merely trying to be kind, this dangerous habit can blur our personal boundaries. When we don’t know when or how to say “no,” it can negatively impact our confidence.
But as a future business leader, you need to be comfortable with turning people down and realising that, actually, it’s healthy. Next time you’re faced with this conundrum, rather than accepting or using hesitant phrases like “I’m not sure” or “I don’t think I can”, simply say “I’m sorry, but I can’t” (only if you genuinely can’t, of course).
Not only is saying “no” crucial for managing your time effectively (and trust us, you’ll be very busy), but also for developing your assertiveness and confidence, and showing people that you respect your own time.
8. Surround yourself with confident people
Last but not least, it’s essential to surround yourself with people who exert the same energy that you want to manifest. In other words, spend time with confident people to become more confident.
The types of people we interact and associate with greatly affect our lives and characters. They are our motivation. Seeing other people succeed encourages us to follow in their footsteps.
Perhaps there are other entrepreneurs in your personal life with whom you could bond. If not, why not connect with some local business owners, or reach out to them on social media?
But it’s not just other entrepreneurs that can boost your confidence. Your friends, family members, and colleagues all play a crucial role in forming your circle of trust and inspiration.
Conclusion
If you’re struggling with confidence, you’re not alone. But don’t let that stop you. Follow our tips above to transform your self-perception and outlook into a more confident and positive one, and make your entrepreneurial dreams become a reality.
Have any experiences or advice to share? Leave them in the comments below.