What The Truly Confident Do – Part 1

Dr. Travis Bradberry, co-author of “Emotional Intelligence 2.0,” says genuinely confident people earn more and are promoted more quickly. Part of their success is their ability to inspire themselves, as well as others.

  • Bradberry says the truly confident get their happiness from within, summoning pleasure and satisfaction from their own accomplishments rather than what other people think of them.
  • They listen more than they speak because they don’t need to prove themselves. This also allows them grow through paying attention and learning from others.
  • The genuinely confident take risks. Instead of worrying about what could go wrong, they ask themselves, “What’s stopping me?” or “Why can’t I do that?”
  • They aren’t afraid to be wrong. They put their opinion out there to see if it holds up, knowing they’ll learn from the times they are wrong.
  • Finally, they celebrate the success of others without worrying about their own relevance. They focus on what others bring to the table.

What The Truly Confident Do – Part 2

Dr. Travis Bradberry, co-author of “Emotional Intelligence 2.0,” says the behavior of the genuinely confident comes from within and is notably different than that of people who mask their insecurities.   Authentically confident people are successful because they inspire others and make things happen. Here are a few traits the truly confident people share.

  • They speak with certainty. They understand that people don’t listen if you can’t deliver ideas with conviction.
  • The truly confident seek out small victories. This builds new androgen receptors in the brain – which are responsible for reward and motivation.
  • Thru exercise, they boost endorphins, thereby increasing positivity.
  • Genuinely confident people don’t seek attention. They understand that being themselves is more effective than trying to prove they’re important.
  • They avoid passing judgment, taking the view that everyone has something valuable to offer.

Learn By Teaching Others

Have you ever noticed how much you learn when asked to show someone else how to do something? Learning by teaching others is a tremendous way to increase your knowledge and your marketability.

Start by identifying opportunities where you can share your expertise. Can you volunteer to train others on rapidly changing processes or software updates? Can you become an adjunct professor at a local college? Can you donate your time to a non-profit and teach people how to do something you want to master?

The benefits of teaching others are many. It reinforces what you know while giving you reasons to test assumptions. It increases your depth of knowledge, making you more valuable to your organization. It improves your ability to communicate about the topic you’re sharing. It builds self-confidence and has a positive impact on job satisfaction. Find ways that you can share your knowledge and you’ll be rewarded time and again.