Exude confidence

- "Audrey, play nice with others, "get along with others, and show kindness." My parents used to tell me this all the time when it came to dealing with my peers and others. I constantly thank my parents for those lessons. It sure did help as I developed in my career, and over time, I realized that those lessons were not only about being good for others, but for myself, as well. In this lesson, I want to give you tips on how to be kind to yourself to boost your self-confidence. First, you absolutely have to attack negative self-talk with positive words of affirmation. Yeah, I know, words of affirmation have gotten sort of a cheesy reputation, but research has shown it works. As a start, I suggest you write one about what you give yourself permission to feel. Like Audrey, that's me, I give myself permission to feel sad about this situation. It's now time to give myself permission to celebrate my accomplishments for that day or even week. No matter what you choose, be kind, and don't let the negative self-talk run wild. Next, turn criticism into a motivation tool. Most people don't like to be criticized, but criticism typically is a form of feedback, and feedback is great because it gives you an opportunity to reflect and also grow in your journey. A great way to remain positive about criticism is not to take it too personally. Instead, take it as, this is a way this person experienced me, how can I turn this into a win? Finally, don't dwell on your past weaknesses. Use the past to grow. At the end of the day, it's up to you to not fall victim to the woe is me trap. Use it to be victorious. As a leader, your role is to be looking ahead and leading others into the future. So don't waste your energy dwelling in the past. In my career, I train people to recognize and confront their weaknesses. This is just another form of negative self-talk to us. So acknowledge your feelings, and then move on. Give your best energy to your strengths and where you are going. Don't waste unnecessary time with the sunk costs of the past. So play nice, get along, and show kindness to yourself. Treat yourself as you would treat others. The next time you look in the mirror, focus on your strengths. Practice building that confidence muscle. As a strong female leader, you're going to need it.