Confidence

What does confidence mean?

Confidence is a belief that a person can rely on your ability.

Are you reliable? Can you do your job competently? If yes, then show it!

You cannot achieve what God has planned out for you if you lack confidence because people would find it difficult to believe in you.

When you are confident, people see a competent person. They see a professional whom they can trust to do a good job. No one would entrust their business into a professional who looks like an amateur.

Confidence: Why it's important.

How would others know to choose you and your ideas if you don't show it?
When you are confident, people see a competent and trustworthy person. As a professional, you want to demonstrate that you rely on you to do your job well.

It is left to you to take steps that will show your God-given gifts and your acquired knowledge,  abilities and skills.

A lack of confidence makes you look like a rookie. If you are skilled at what you do, looking like a rookie would slow down your ability to achieve success. Consequently, you want to look confident when interacting with your peers, boss or client.

When you meet with your boss or client, they are making a judgment on whether to go with you and your idea or not. Therefore it's your responsibility to show that you are competent and trustworthy.

Confidence: How to demonstrate it.

You show confidence by what you do and not by how you feel. Your feelings are not always a correct indication of your abilities.

Sometimes you will feel apprehensive although you've done everything right. Therefore your feelings are unreliable!

Behind the scenes, there are many things you have to do to show up as the best choice for your clients. However, your prep work is of no use if you do not show it. 

How you look.

You demonstrate confidence by how you look, how you sound and what you say. First impressions last forever.

Your body language and what you wear makes up how you look. 

Your facial expressions and posture make up a large chunk of your communication. Watch out for habits that show up when you are nervous.

When you are well dressed, you are ready to meet with anyone at any time. You would feel great about yourself, and you would always be ready for unplanned meetings. So dress for the position you want and how you would like to be addressed.

Daniel was in preparation for years. When he asked the eunuch for a different meal plan, the eunuch was concerned about how he would look. Daniel had to ask for a trial period to demonstrate that his choice of food would not affect his looks. 

What you say.

Be engaging when you speak. Learn how you can combine stories to pass your ideas across. 

Speak in a way that your audience can appreciate. Jesus used parables to communicate with his disciples. Jesus knew that it was easier for his followers to understand what he meant. Don't use language that goes over their heads. Instead, use terms that they make use of in their business. 

Take time to study your clients and boss. Understand how they communicate. 

Make it easy for them to identify the benefits your idea brings. In this article Managing Cultural Differences in Negotiation the writer of the blog (Katie Shonk) suggested researching the whole person in order to get better outcomes during negotiations.

Steve Adams, In an article in Christianity Today, wrote about the need to have the combination of self-confidence and humility to achieve your God-given task.

Confidence makes it easier for other people to see you as a skilled and competent professional.

If you are to succeed and be in alignment with God's plan for your life, you must demonstrate confidence.