Guest post by Jess Hopp
Many people in their career are pressured to believe they need to reach monetary milestones in order to achieve success. Perhaps it is making a certain amount of money each year, owning a specific car, or achieving a title at work. However, would you guess true confidence and positive self-esteem do not automatically come with the pay increase and title at work?
As Amy Cuddy points out in her book “Presence,” true confidence stems from real love and leads to long term commitment to growth. False confidence on the other hand, comes from desperate passion and leads to dysfunctional relationships, disappointment, and frustration. Having true confidence and positive self-esteem are both highly positive traits but not all individuals are truly confident.
So, with that job promotion and the title bump, you might be radiating confidence for a hot second, but then reality sets in quickly. Your CONFIDENCE is showing. BUT is it true confidence?
Cuddy goes on to say that true belief in oneself, in ones ideas is grounding. It defuses threat.
True Confidence
How do we know if we have true confidence? Below is a list of core values a truly confident person would possess.
- Commitment to Growth
- Create Value for Others
- Be Present— Put Assumptions Aside
- Acknowledge Your Strengths and Weaknesses
- Accept Others and Welcome Feedback
I challenge you to take time today and jot down numbers 1-5 on a sheet of paper. After each number, write the core value and how you are working toward building your truly confident self. If it is blank, that is okay! Write down how you would approach a situation in the future with a true confidence mindset.
Jess Hopp is the founder of Career Love Collective, an organization with a single mission to empower all women to be their best self and reach their fullest potential offering customized professional development services. In the "Confident You" program, you receive a tailored plan that works best for you. This excerpt was taken from an archived posting of #askjess.