Roselle Umlas
Confidence is key when it comes to getting ahead in life, especially if you’re a woman in a male-dominated setting.
So, how exactly do confident women manage to stay on top? Are you ready to learn the little tricks that help them reach their goals? You’re in luck because that’s exactly what I’ll be talking about!
In this article, we’ll tackle 15 of these little tricks. Let’s dive right in and see how they can help you get ahead!
1) They arrive early
Let’s begin with something that looks so mundane but actually does heaps to get you ahead.
Being on time, or better yet, arriving early, to events doesn’t just make you look reliable and professional, as if you’ve got it all together. It actually does wonders for your state of mind because it eliminates the anxiety that comes with rushing and dashing.
Think about it – when you’re running late, don’t you feel more frazzled and antsy? I’m sure there are times when you’ve sat in the car wondering if you didn’t forget anything.
Preparing ahead and arriving early lets you say goodbye to all these worries. When you know you’ve got a bit of time to spare before the event starts, you can walk into the room feeling confident.
2) They use body language to their advantage
This is a really powerful tool that can help us ladies get what we want. Knowing how to read and use body language in different situations allows us to figure out how to connect with someone better.
For example, eye contact. Confident women know that maintaining good eye contact makes people warm up to them and trust them more. There’s nothing like knowing someone’s really seeing and listening to you!
And let’s not forget about power posing! Power poses like standing in an assertive posture – with your shoulders back and chin up – can really improve performance in high-pressure situations. And that’s backed by science!
Speaking of power poses, I should also tell you about the importance of power dressing…
3) They power-dress
Remember the humongous shoulder pads back in the 80s? Those might look laughable now but back in the day, those pads made women look so powerful and gave them a boost of confidence.
See, clothes do make the (wo)man. While they’re not the only factor in determining success, they do matter in making a great first impression and conveying professionalism.
Now that’s not to say we should all be dressing like managers and CEOs in the boardroom. Everyone’s idea of success is different, so think about the impression you’d like to put forth, whether it’s a sleek and polished look or a bold and artsy vibe.
I love this quote I read somewhere: “Dress for the job you want, not the job you have.” You know why? Because it doesn’t say, “Dress like you’re on Wall Street.” I love that it accounts for everyone’s different ambitions!
Simply put, your clothes should get you in that mindset that you’re on your way to success, whatever that looks like for you!
4) They use “I believe” instead of “I think”
One of the problems with being a woman in a world dominated by men is that we’re perceived as soft, indecisive people.
Confident women put that assumption to rest by using words that reflect truth and conviction. In short, instead of saying, “I think…” or “Perhaps…”, they begin with a definite “I believe.”
That immediately sends the message that you stand by your statement and that people would do well to listen to you.
5) They reframe negative thoughts
Now I have to say that all of the points above have to do with outward expressions of confidence.
And while they are certainly helpful, I think – no wait, I BELIEVE – that it’s always best to grow your confidence from within.
That’s why truly confident women have mastered the art of reframing or reversing negative thoughts.
No matter how self-assured a person is, they still suffer from the occasional doubt and anxiety. That’s just how it is to be human. But they do have this skill of flipping a negative thought on its head.
Here’s how you do it:
- Challenge the negative thought. Ask, “Is this thought really true?”
- Find a more positive thought or belief to replace it with.
- Use that positive perspective to reframe the negative one and visualize the outcome you want to achieve.
That’s a neat little mind trick, huh? If you can do this, you’ll be where you want to be pretty soon! You’ll have not just a strong mind that can help you get what you want!
6) They speak up/say no when they have to
Having a strong mind also means you’ll be able to express yourself confidently. All too often, women struggle with getting heard, especially in the workplace.
We have to deal with mansplaining, getting interrupted, getting excluded, microaggressions based on gender stereotypes, and all that.
Confident women have a strong voice that cuts through all that and puts people in place. That might sound aggressive, but the key is to do it in an assertive and classy way.
They also know how to put their foot down and say no to people and things that don’t serve them. This leads me to my next point…
7) They prioritize their time and energy
See, when you know what you want out of life, you have a better view of where and when to spend your energy.
As women, it’s no secret that we get pulled in so many directions. We wear so many hats – boss, business owner, mom, wife, daughter, sister, friend, mentor, community leader…the list goes on and on!
It’s exhausting, right? And no matter how confident you are and you want to be in charge of everything, the truth is, something has to give.
8) They practice self-care
All those roles and responsibilities that women have certainly take a toll on their physical and mental health.
I hear you when you say you’re drained, but you can’t stop because everyone expects so much from you. That’s one of the pitfalls of being so confident and good at what you do.
But listen – even confident women can get tired. Confidence is a state of mind and a way of being, but it doesn’t mean that one is immune to stress, exhaustion, or burnout.
In fact, self-care is an important aspect of maintaining confidence. Research shows that recovery is what sets high achievers apart from everyone else.
So don’t be afraid to take breaks and take care of yourself. Remember that these habits will help you stay on top of your game and be happier, at that!
9) They build their confidence on criticism instead of compliments
I know that receiving compliments makes us feel good. No doubt about that.
But here’s the deal: as good as they feel, compliments don’t really help you improve. In fact, they run the danger of making you complacent.
A better way is to build confidence on constructive criticism. When you focus on criticism, you are more likely to see it as an opportunity for growth and improvement. This puts you in a growth mindset, another trick I’ll discuss later.
Criticism helps us identify areas we need to improve on. And they teach us to be resilient; after all, it’s never easy to deal with criticism.
But when you learn how to power through that and take the lessons you need from it, you’ll grow in leaps and bounds!
10) They develop a growth mindset
As I mentioned earlier, having a growth mindset is one of the tricks confident women use to get ahead.
A growth mindset shifts the focus on learning instead of simply seeking validation, which I’d like to add, is never an attractive trait.
As long as you’re open to new experiences, you’ll learn new skills that will boost your personal and professional worth. You’ll become more adaptable and creative, and all of these work to make you even more confident!
Plus, you’ll learn how to do this next part…
11) They shake it off
What do I mean by this?
Well, just this – failures don’t faze confident women as much as they would a person lacking in self-esteem.
You see, the beauty of having a growth mindset is knowing that nothing is permanent. Life is fluid, things pass, and failures happen.
Being confident doesn’t mean you think you’ll succeed all the time. On the contrary, it means you accept that you won’t. It means being resilient and accepting that failure is a part of success.
12) They surround themselves with positive influences
An old adage says that birds of the same feather flock together. Never is this truer than when it comes to positivity.
Energy is contagious, and confident women know that. So, they make sure to surround themselves with the best people – those who lift them up, inspire them, and help them be their best version.
After all, no matter how strong and confident you are, the road to success gets much easier with the help of the right people!
13) They celebrate their successes
Lastly, confident women know when to stop and celebrate their successes, whether big or small.
It’s a form of positive reinforcement – a great way to boost self-esteem and build momentum toward future success.
Life is full of ups and downs, even for those filled with verve and chutzpah. So, when things happen for you, take those heels off and dance like no one’s watching!
