Enhancing Self Confidence - Essay Example

Enhancing Self-Confidence The essay aims to present a personal assessment of one’s level of self confidence, use characteristic such as confident, independent, and self-driven for the self-assessment. Likewise, the discourse requires a selection and description of six techniques to build self-confidence; providing explanation as to how they can help strengthen one’s self-confidence. Finally, an analysis of how self-confidence can affect job performance and how inter-office relationships are affected by differing levels of self-confidence would be proffered.

Enhancing Self-Confidence Personal Assessment of Level of Self-Confidence Honestly, it is one’s contention that the level of confidence is highly associated with the level of experience one gains through life. As a student, one is still in the process of building and enhancing self-confidence through the assistance of course modules, theoretical frameworks, practical applications and day-to-day experiences that enables one to increase personal awareness of internal strengths and weaknesses.

In this regard, I consider myself as more confident now that I was several years ago due to the wealth of information and experiences gained. As I acknowledged that I can do more things now, I consider myself gaining increased independence from parents’ support and from mentors’ direct supervision and guidance. I also consider myself as self-directed in terms of defining personal goals and objectives, determining plans and ambitions, and designing strategies that would help be achieve these plans.

However, I am aware that there are still some weaknesses that need to be developed and improved, especially in terms of honing diverse skills to prepare me for future endeavors. These skills are leadership skills, decision-making skills, problem-solving, and conflict negotiation skills, among others. Six Techniques to Build Self-Confidence According to Ruth Hegarty (2011), the founder and lead coach at Leap of Confidence, a company that helps women entrepreneurs create effortless success through confidence building and concrete business practices, there are six techniques that one should consider to build self-confidence, to wit: (1) promoting awareness of one’s current level of confidence and defining the desire and commitment to increase self confidence; (2) working on getting to know oneself in terms of strengths and weaknesses; (3) transforming one’s personal frame of mind and perspectives towards optimistic and positive growth; (4) implement strategies slowly but surely; (5) acknowledge accomplishments and enjoy the benefits; and (6) monitor progress and continue to learn new things.

These techniques would assist in strengthening self-confidence by reinforcing new learning and the lessons from past experiences provide moral from which future challenges could be met and surpassed easily and with appropriate level of competence and skills. Self-Confidence and Job Performance People with high levels of self-confidence exude high self-esteem. The study conducted by Baumeister, et al. (2003) reveals that “as the person performs or behaves better, self-esteem is encouraged to rise, and the net effect will be to reinforce both good behavior and improvement” (39).

This is highly applicable in work settings where people who are acknowledged to perform well achieves higher levels of self-confidence that permeates to the person’s increased ability, drive and interest to learn more. These high performing individuals are therefore promoted, given higher levels of responsibilities and thereby improving job performance. Likewise, Baumeister, et al. (2003) also validated that people with high self confidence and self esteem “initiate interactions and relationships” (37).

The more confident the person is, the higher the propensities to develop inter-office relationships as that person moves, collaborates, participates and interacts from one level to another in the organizational hierarchy. References Baumeister, R.F., Campbell, J.D., Krueger, J.I., and Vohs, K.D. (2003). “Does High Self-Esteem Cause Better Performance, Interpersonal Success, Happiness, or Healthier Lifestyles?” Psychological Science in the Public Interest, Volume 4, Number 1, Pages 1 – 44.

Hegarty, R. (2011). 6 Steps to Build Confidence. Retrieved 11 June 2011. < http://www.selfgrowth.com/articles/6_Steps_to_Building_Confidence.html>