As a young lawyer, I was once told by my mentor that I was lacking confidence. He suggested I keep my head up, push my shoulders back, and speak louder. It came from a place of good intention and I definitely tried it on in intimidating situations, but as a generally soft-spoken person, the notion that I was lacking confidence and how to fix it was always in the back of my mind.
The topic of confidence comes up often in my coaching conversations, ranging from my clients wanting to learn how to make decisions confidently, or trying something brand new for the first time. It can be a barrier for all of us, no matter what profession or stage of life you’re in. But the best news I’ve discovered is that you don’t have to employ strategies that don’t feel authentic to you in order to excel.