Fast Company Daily Stop trying to ‘feel confident’
Jul 10, 2025
Confidence isn’t just a feeling; it’s all about behavior. Discover how acting confidently can lead to genuine assurance over time. The discussion includes practical tools to enhance communication skills, illustrated through the story of a marketing executive. Learn effective drills to boost both your verbal and physical confidence. Transform your approach to self-assurance by focusing on actions rather than emotions!
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Confidence Is Behavior, Not Feeling
- Confidence is not a feeling but a behavior that can be practiced and demonstrated.
- Acting confident often creates actual confidence over time.
Thought Suppression Backfires
- Trying to suppress nervous feelings with "don't be nervous" causes those feelings to intensify.
- The brain works in a way that makes thought suppression counterproductive.
Jim's Wine Cork Confidence Drill
- Jim, a marketing exec, improved his communication by practicing with a wine cork between his teeth.
- This forced clearer speech and made him sound confident, leading to a promotion.
