Whitney Houston had it right when she said, “Learning to love yourself is the greatest love of all.” A lack of self-confidence is one of the biggest barriers for women’s advancement in business that we can control. So show yourself this month and take stock of all of your great achievements. That’s why in this week’s Fearless in 5 we’ll give you the five steps to building your Confidence Catalogue.
Step #1: Think back to your childhood. Research shows most girls lose 30% of their confidence when they turn 13. So remember those younger days when you were at your most fearless. What did you do that you were proud of? What if your daughter or niece did the same thing? Would you be cheering them on?
Step #2: Channel your college years. What did you do as an undergrad that made you feel so fearless and that you could change the world? Whether it was backpacking across Europe without a plan or local currency. Or choosing a college far from home without knowing a single person…I’m sure there’s quite a few things you could find on your list.
Step #3: Check in across your career. Think back on your entire professional journey. What are your accomplishments that stand out the most? Then focus on just the last five years. Think about what would you highlight as your most meaningful achievements in a job interview. And now think to just the last year. What did you do that even surprised yourself?
Step #4: Bucket the list. As you look back on your Confidence Catalogue, you can probably find some themes that will emerge. Create those categories.
Step #5: Make a date with yourself. Create a recurring calendar entry for just five or ten minutes every week—I personally like Friday mornings—where you look back at the week and identify what are the greatest achievements that you can add to your Confidence Catalogue. The reality is, if you don’t have anything to add, you probably better rethink how you’re spending your time.
The next time you need a little dose of confidence, check out your catalogue before the big meeting or the tough conversation. And if you have some tips to share please add them to the comments below. And to learn how you can be fearless at work and in life, please check out Wet Cement at wet-cement.com.
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