How can you build confidence in a competitive environment?

Competing with others can be a great way to challenge yourself, learn new skills, and achieve your goals. But it can also be a source of stress, anxiety, and self-doubt, especially if you feel like you are not good enough, or that others are better than you. How can you build confidence in a competitive environment, without losing your motivation, authenticity, or integrity? Here are some tips to help you boost your self-esteem and performance, while respecting yourself and others.

1 Recognize your strengths

One of the first steps to building confidence is to acknowledge your own abilities and achievements. You have unique talents, skills, and experiences that make you valuable and capable. Make a list of your strengths, and remind yourself of them regularly. Celebrate your successes, big and small, and learn from your mistakes. Don't compare yourself to others, but focus on your own progress and improvement.

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Julia Toronczak, ACC, WPCC

Empowering anxious and ambitious professionals to build their confidence and find fulfillment outside of their 9-5 grind | Confidence Coach | Fulfillment Coach | Yoga Instructor | CPTSD Thriver | Down Syndrome Advocate
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Get extra clear on where your strengths lie. Understand your own unique talents, your differentiators, and where you excel. On the flip side, it's also important to understand where your growth-edges are (areas where you have room for growth). That way, you can continue to develop your skills.

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Lynn Dowding FCIPD

Learning & Development - HR - Strengths Coaching - Assessment - Talent Development - Resilience & Well-being
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Discover your unique strengths by completing an assessment e.g StrengthsFjnder or StrengthScope. Working with a coach qualified in one of these tools can help you understand and celebrate your strengths. Learning how you use them and where they’ve shown up in the past can help enhance your performance.

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2 Set realistic goals

Another way to build confidence is to set clear and attainable goals for yourself, and to break them down into manageable steps. Having a vision of what you want to achieve, and how you can get there, can help you stay focused, motivated, and confident. Track your progress, and reward yourself for each milestone. Adjust your goals if necessary, and don't let setbacks discourage you. Remember that success is not a destination, but a journey.

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Julia Toronczak, ACC, WPCC

Empowering anxious and ambitious professionals to build their confidence and find fulfillment outside of their 9-5 grind | Confidence Coach | Fulfillment Coach | Yoga Instructor | CPTSD Thriver | Down Syndrome Advocate
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SMART goals are essential for building confidence, while simultaneously finding fulfillment along the way in the journey. Goals should be: Specific Measurable Achievable Relevant Time-Bound

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3 Seek feedback and support

A third way to build confidence is to seek constructive feedback and support from others. Feedback can help you identify your areas of improvement, and learn from different perspectives. Support can help you cope with challenges, and feel more connected and appreciated. Seek feedback and support from people who are trustworthy, respectful, and supportive, and avoid those who are negative, critical, or toxic. Be open to feedback and support, but also trust your own judgment and intuition.

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Julia Toronczak, ACC, WPCC

Empowering anxious and ambitious professionals to build their confidence and find fulfillment outside of their 9-5 grind | Confidence Coach | Fulfillment Coach | Yoga Instructor | CPTSD Thriver | Down Syndrome Advocate
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Feedback is essential for growth. We all view the world from our own unique perspectives, which means that we all also carry our own blindspots. Feedback is a great way to grow and move past your own blindspots. You can ask a mentor or trusted colleague for specific feedback. Let them know where you want to grow, and ask for specific areas where you can improve.

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Lynn Dowding FCIPD

Learning & Development - HR - Strengths Coaching - Assessment - Talent Development - Resilience & Well-being
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Specifically ask others - Where and when have you seen me excel? When have I used my capabilities? Which of my strengths have you noticed?

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4 Embrace diversity

A fourth way to build confidence is to embrace diversity and difference. Competition can be healthy and beneficial, but it can also create a sense of scarcity and threat. Instead of seeing others as rivals or enemies, see them as allies and collaborators. Appreciate the diversity of skills, backgrounds, and perspectives that others bring, and learn from them. Recognize that everyone has something to offer, and that you can benefit from working with them, rather than against them.

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Julia Toronczak, ACC, WPCC

Empowering anxious and ambitious professionals to build their confidence and find fulfillment outside of their 9-5 grind | Confidence Coach | Fulfillment Coach | Yoga Instructor | CPTSD Thriver | Down Syndrome Advocate
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Diversity is essential - it provides us with fresh perspectives and ideas that we may have never thought of beforehand. Embrace that everyone on the team has something unique that they can offer.

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Lynn Dowding FCIPD

Learning & Development - HR - Strengths Coaching - Assessment - Talent Development - Resilience & Well-being
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Identify the different teams you’ve worked in. Think about how you have contributed to the success of each team. Which strengths do you respect and admire in others? How do these strengths differ from your own? How can other strengths complement yours to achieve great results?

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5 Practice self-care

A fifth way to build confidence is to practice self-care and wellness. Confidence is not only a mental state, but also a physical and emotional one. To feel confident, you need to take care of your body, mind, and spirit. Eat well, sleep well, exercise regularly, and relax often. Avoid stress, negativity, and burnout. Nurture your hobbies, interests, and passions. Express your feelings, thoughts, and needs. Be kind, compassionate, and respectful to yourself and others.

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Julia Toronczak, ACC, WPCC

Empowering anxious and ambitious professionals to build their confidence and find fulfillment outside of their 9-5 grind | Confidence Coach | Fulfillment Coach | Yoga Instructor | CPTSD Thriver | Down Syndrome Advocate
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No one else gets to take care of you better than you can take care of yourself. Building your confidence means getting outside of your comfort zone and getting uncomfortable, and you deserve to rest and find moments to slow down and reset after getting outside of your comfort zone. And if you're like me, maybe slowing down and practicing self-care is something that's outside of your comfort zone! How can you slowly start to incorporate 1 new thing into your day each week to practice self-care, whether that's taking an exercise class, taking a bath, or slowing down and reading on the beach or in a park?

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6 Challenge yourself

A sixth way to build confidence is to challenge yourself and step out of your comfort zone. Confidence is not something that you have or don't have, but something that you build and grow. To build confidence, you need to face your fears, try new things, and take risks. Challenge yourself to do something that scares you, or that you think you can't do. You might surprise yourself with what you can achieve, and how much you can learn. And even if you fail, you will still gain valuable experience and insight.

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Lynn Dowding FCIPD

Learning & Development - HR - Strengths Coaching - Assessment - Talent Development - Resilience & Well-being
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Stretch yourself with new experiences so that you continue to learn and grow. Avoid the panic zone to maintain positivity and avoid stress.

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7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?

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How can you build confidence in a competitive environment?

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3

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1 Recognize your strengths

2 Set realistic goals

3 Seek feedback and support

4 Embrace diversity

5 Practice self-care

6 Challenge yourself

7 Here’s what else to consider

Confidence Building

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