How to BUILD confidence

There’s a host of things we can do to build confidence. Firstly, we have to learn to “doubt the doubt”, as Warrell puts it. And – crucially – not let it dictate our decisions. “No one is immune to fear of failure,” says Warrell. “It’s part and parcel of being human. It’s what we do next that matters.”

Building confidence requires us to step out of our comfort zone, even when we might fail. Women have a tendency to wait until we think we can do a job perfectly before we dare go for it. Even Christine Lagarde, head of the International Monetary Fund and one of the world’s most powerful women, has revealed that she over-prepares for meetings. But men will happily wing it. “One of the biggest mistakes is women waiting until they’re really sure they’ll succeed before they try,” says Warrell. “But becoming confident means doing the very thing we wish we were confident enough to do.” DO IT You know that voice inside your head that’s always nagging you about every mistake? Name it. “You might call it Debbie Downer or your Inner Gremlin,” says Warrell. Naming it helps you see it’s not who you are but simply your fear talking. >>