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Leading Lady Coaching

Confidence Building: 5 Strategies for Becoming Unstoppable

Let’s talk about something I get asked about ALL the time: confidence building. I know what you might be thinking: “Not another post about confidence, AliceAnne!” But stick with me because this isn’t your typical “just believe in yourself” advice. We’re talking about real, practical ways to build lasting confidence that transforms your business and life.

I’ve worked with many women since I started coaching, and I’ve seen how lack of confidence holds so many of us back. And I’ve been there myself! When I first started my business, I struggled with putting myself out there. I’d spend hours overthinking every decision, wondering if I was “good enough” to help others.

The Real Truth About Building Confidence

Do you know what’s funny about confidence building that most people don’t talk about? It’s not about those positive affirmations or power poses (though, hey, those can help!). Real confidence comes from taking small steps forward, even when you’re scared.

I see this all the time in my coaching practice. Women think they need some magic formula or breakthrough moment to feel confident. But real confidence building happens in those small, daily choices to push yourself just a tiny bit outside your comfort zone.

I had a client – let’s call her Jessica – who came to me feeling totally stuck. Despite running a successful business, she constantly doubted herself and compared herself to others in her industry. Sound familiar? I’ve written about that comparison trap before! Through our work together on confidence building, something amazing happened. Within a few months, Jessica wasn’t just facing challenges – she was actively seeking them out as opportunities to grow. Her business took off because she finally trusted her own decisions.

5 Real-World Confidence Building Strategies

You have probably heard lots of “just be confident” tips that sound great but leave you wondering what to actually DO. Like, thanks for telling me to believe in myself, but how exactly does that help me run my business or lead my team?

So, let me break this down into real, practical confidence-building strategies you can start using today. These aren’t just feel-good ideas – they’re the exact strategies I use with my clients (and myself!) when we need to build rock-solid confidence. And the best part? You can start using them right now, exactly where you are.

1. Start with Tiny Wins

We often think we need to do something huge to feel confident. Nope! Start super small. I mean, really small.

Try this: Pick one teeny tiny thing that scares you a little, like sending that email you’ve been avoiding or speaking up in your next team meeting. Do it today. Maybe even do it for a few days until it feels comfortable. Then, do something slightly bigger. These small acts of courage add up faster than you’d think!

Make it happen:

  • Choose one specific area to focus on first. Don’t try to transform everything at once! Maybe it’s speaking up in meetings, setting boundaries with clients, or sending those follow-up emails you’ve been avoiding.
  • Create your “confidence ladder” for this area. List 5-10 actions from super easy to more challenging. For example, if you’re working on speaking up in meetings, your ladder might look like:
    • Step 1: Say “good morning” at the start of the meeting
    • Step 2: Ask one clarifying question
    • Step 3: Share a quick update on your current project
    • Step 4: Offer one suggestion during brainstorming
    • Step 5: Present a new idea you’ve been thinking about
  • Start with the smallest step and practice it until it feels comfortable
  • Move to the next step when you’re ready

I had another client who used this exact strategy. She started by just sending one email a day to potential partners. Now, she’s running successful workshops with those same partners. Small steps add up to big changes!

I had another client who started by just sending one email a day to potential partners. Now, she’s running successful workshops with those same partners. Small steps add up to big changes.

2. Get Real with Your Self-Talk

I see this all the time with my clients – the stories we tell ourselves can totally crush our confidence. Notice when you’re telling yourself, “I can’t” or “I’m not ready.” These aren’t facts – they’re just old habits we can change. Turn that self-talk around by noticing what you can do.

Try this: Start a “wins journal.” I know it might sound cheesy, but trust me on this! Write down your daily achievements, no matter how small. Remember, you’re going to start tiny, but those tiny wins will add up and turn into bigger ones. When self-doubt creeps in, and it will, flip through your journal to remind yourself of what you’re capable of.

Make it happen:

  • Get yourself a special notebook or create a notes folder on your phone – whatever works best for you
  • Each day, write down at least three wins, no matter how small
  • Include how you felt before and after each win
  • Note any negative self-talk you caught and how you turned it around
  • At the end of each week, review your wins and notice any patterns
  • Share your biggest win of the week with someone you trust

One of my clients started doing this and noticed she was telling herself, “I’m not ready,” at least five times a day! Once she started catching it, she’d add “…yet” to the end of that thought. Within a month, she was catching herself before the negative thoughts even finished forming.

3. Take Action (Even When It’s Not Perfect)

Perfection is the enemy of confidence. When you wait for everything to be “just right,” you miss opportunities to grow and learn. Taking action, even imperfect action, builds more confidence than all the planning in the world.

Try this: This one will be tough if you’re a perfectionist! Next time you catch yourself over-preparing or waiting for the “perfect moment,” give yourself a deadline and take one small step forward when you reach it. Any step counts, so just get it done. You can always make it better later.

Make it happen:

  • Set specific time limits for planning and preparation
  • Use the “15-minute rule” – if something will take less than 15 minutes, do it now
  • Create “good enough” criteria for your tasks – what’s the minimum needed to move forward?
  • Schedule regular “imperfect action” time blocks in your calendar
  • Keep a “done is better than perfect” list of times when taking imperfect action worked out fine
  • Celebrate completing tasks, not just doing them perfectly

Listen, I get it – this one’s scary! I’ve been there myself. I was working on my new website with Leading Lady Ambassador Chrissy Rey last year. I wanted my content to be perfect, and that was holding up the project. Chrissy was great about not pressuring me, but after asking for the final content a few times, and me putting it off, she reminded me that I could always change the content after we launched. And you know what? She was right! I finished the content, we launched, and everyone loved the website, even with the imperfect content.

4. Build Your Support Squad

Your environment plays a huge role in confidence building. Trying to do everything alone just doesn’t work. Spend time with people who believe in you and support your growth. Their confidence in you will help strengthen your own.

Try this: Create a “confidence squad” – a small group of supporters who celebrate your wins and encourage you during challenges. They’re your personal confidence-building team! Don’t have anybody to invite to your squad? Join my Facebook group to meet some potential squad members.

Make it happen:

  • Identify 3-5 people who consistently lift you up and believe in you
  • Set up regular check-ins with your squad (weekly coffee dates, monthly Zoom calls, etc.)
  • Create a private group chat for sharing wins and challenges
  • Plan quarterly goal-setting sessions with your squad
  • Practice asking for help and support – it gets easier!
  • Be a supportive squad member for others, too

One of my clients struggled with making big business decisions because she second-guessed herself constantly. She became a Leading Lady Ambassador so she could connect with other women entrepreneurs who really got what she was going through. Instead of staying stuck in her head, she’d bring her challenges to our bi-weekly masterminds. Having these trusted voices to bounce ideas off of helped her make decisions faster and with more confidence.

The Leading Lady Ambassadors and The Collective are great examples of “confidence squads.”

5. Learn from Every Single Experience

True confidence comes from knowing that no matter what happens, you can handle it. Every experience – good or bad – becomes a chance to learn and grow stronger.

Try this: At the end of each day, ask yourself, “What did I learn today that makes me stronger?” Focus on progress, not perfection.

Make it happen:

  • Keep a “lessons learned” section in your journal or planner
  • After each challenge or success, ask yourself:
    • What worked well?
    • What would I do differently next time?
    • What surprised me?
    • How did I handle it better than I would have six months ago?
  • Share your lessons with your support squad
  • Review your lessons monthly to spot patterns and growth
  • Create a “confidence evidence file” with examples of how you’ve handled challenges
  • Use past experiences to build confidence for future challenges

I love what one of my clients did with this – she created what she calls her “I’ve got this” file. Every time she successfully handles a challenge, she writes down exactly how she did it. Now when she faces something new, she looks back at all the other challenges she’s overcome and reminds herself, “I’ve handled tough things before, I can handle this too!”

Remember, these strategies work best when you use them together. Start small, track your progress, celebrate your wins, lean on your support squad, and learn from every step along the way. And most importantly? Be patient with yourself. Building confidence is a journey, not a destination – and you’re already on your way!

Time to Take Action

Building confidence isn’t a one-and-done thing – I still work on mine daily. Start where you are, use what you have, and take one tiny step forward today.

What area of your life needs a confidence boost right now? How will you start building your confidence today? I really want to know! Head over to my Facebook group and share your thoughts. Let’s support each other in this journey.

And remember – you don’t have to do this alone. If you’re ready to fast-track your confidence-building journey, let’s chat. Book a call, and we’ll map out a plan together to build the confidence you need to become the unstoppable leader you’re meant to be.

You’ve got this! I know it might not feel like it right now, but every successful woman started exactly where you are. The only difference? They took that first step. Now it’s your turn!

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