5 Strategies To Boost Your Confidence as a Leader

By Cloris Kylie

Imagine you’re a business leader who makes millions a year. You’re a prominent speaker, and your first book topped the New York Times Best Seller list for five years.

Would you feel confident?

Robert Kiyosaki, best known for writing Rich Dad, Poor Dad, meets the description above, and yet, he doubted himself when he was approached to coauthor a new book. Why would a successful leader like Kiyosaki feel this way? He said he wasn’t sure whether being “only a millionaire” was good enough to write a book with the person who asked him to do so: billionaire Donald Trump.

You might not have a partnership request from “The Donald,” but a lack of confidence might still prevent you from leading effectively. Here are five strategies that will help you create and maintain the confidence you need to lead your team and reach your goals.

1. Avoid comparing yourself to others. Robert Kiyosaki admitted that his doubts began when he compared the size of his accomplishments to that of Donald Trump’s. Focusing on what others have done or are doing will take away your attention from what matters most: your own goals. Instead, contrast your current achievements to your starting point.

Is your team collaborating effectively? Do your efforts meet the needs of your customers? Are all your projects completed on time? Are you helping your associates and team members succeed? If the answer to any of these questions is yes, you have a powerful reason to feel proud of yourself and to be confident in your leadership capabilities.

2. Educate yourself. Iffy knowledge results in iffy confidence. Successful leaders are well-versed in all aspects of their company and their industry. Seek knowledge about your market and competitors. Network with other leaders within your company. Connect with professionals from other organizations. Learn the critical elements to become a successful leader.

Entrepreneur, investor, and best-selling author James Altucher recommends reading 500 books about your topic to be able to say with confidence that you’re an expert in the subject. Starting today, pick up a new book or sign up for a webinar to help you become a better leader.

3. Apply your knowledge. “Competence brings confidence,” says Brendon Burchard, an authority in the personal development industry. Burchard went from living in his girlfriend’s apartment because of his lack of funds to making millions a year. He accomplished this in only a couple of years.

The only way to become a competent leader is through constant, diligent practice. As soon as I learn a new business tactic, I implement it. I test every strategy until I’m able to teach what I’ve learned. This is how I developed my personal branding program, one of the most comprehensive on the market. Block a chunk of time to put new concepts into practice, and continue until you feel confident enough to call yourself an expert.

4. Surround yourself with those who support you. Donald Trump’s reaction to Kiyosaki’s self-doubt was abided support. As a result, Kiyosaki quickly regained his confidence and was able to contribute his creative genius to the project. Make a list of professional partners who trust you and believe in your abilities. Nurture these relationships. Avoid sharing your goals and desires with naysayers; you don’t need anyone to tell you what could go wrong.

This takes me to the last and most important secret to create and maintain confidence . . .

5. Allow only positive scenarios to play in your mind. Although it’s imperative to be proactive so you can react to the unexpected, most of your time should be spent imagining your goals already realized. Having a clear and detailed picture of what you want will allow you to pave a smooth path to achieve it. You will know what to do and when to do it. You’ll know when to delegate or automate. And best of all, you’ll enjoy the process, because leading with confidence is plain fun.