Confidence is one of the best tools a businesswoman can have. It shapes how you show up at networking and online, present your ideas, and connect with clients. But what happens on days when you lose your mojo and confidence feels out of reach?

In the Let’s Get Visible® Community, we like to explore practical ways to boost your confidence and share tips for appearing confident even when you’re not. We also understand how inspiring confidence in your target audience is important.

Why Confidence Matters in Business

Confidence isn’t just a personal asset. It’s a business strategy!

We are naturally drawn to people who project certainty, and this, in turn, builds trust and authority. Your confidence can directly impact your success, but it isn’t a permanent state. Think of confidence as a muscle that can be strengthened, just like going to the gym to tone your body.

“If you hear a voice within you say, ‘You cannot paint,’ then by all means paint, and that voice will be silenced.” Vincent van Gogh

Increasing your business confidence starts with a commitment to learning and professional development. The more you learn and grow, the more self-confident you’ll feel in your abilities.

Working with mentors or coaches and surrounding yourself with supportive colleagues can significantly boost your confidence. Building a community that believes in you and offers guidance is invaluable. When you have a dip in confidence, someone can always lift you up.

“One of the most important things you can do on this earth is to let people know they are not alone.” Shannon L. Alder

Here are three practical exercises you can practice today to start building your confidence.

Boost Your Confidence

Journaling: write down three things you’re proud of from the previous day, no matter how small. This is a great exercise to do every morning when you get up or when you sit at your desk. It shifts your focus to your wins and reminds you of your capability.

Visualisation: who do you want to be in five years’ time? Visualise a version of yourself who has already achieved your biggest goals. How would you speak and act? Start behaving like you’ve already got everything you want.

Anchoring: close your eyes and remember a time when you felt proud of yourself or successful. Maybe you won a Woman Who Award and stood on the stage with your shiny glass award. Relive the feelings, sights, and sounds. This creates a mental anchor you can use before meetings or presentations.

Look Confident Even When You’re Not Feeling It

Sometimes, confidence is about what you project. I always think about the swan in this situation. On the surface, the swan is graceful and glides through the water with confidence, and yet, under the water, it’s paddling like crazy! Here’s how to look like a swan, even if you feel the opposite:

Posture: keep your shoulders back and maintain eye contact. Good posture indicates authority and self-assurance.

Slow Down Your Speech: when you’re nervous, it can make you rush. Speak clearly and pause between points so it gives you time to think. If you want to build your confidence or gear up to speak on bigger stages, Mic Drop® Live is the perfect event to help you create those unforgettable “Mic Drop Moments” every time you speak.

Gestures: avoid fidgeting! Use open, intentional hand movements to reinforce your message. Even on a Zoom call, we feel more comfortable seeing the other person’s hand movements, which inspires confidence in your audience.

“Never bend your head. Always hold it high. Look the world straight in the eye.” Helen Keller

Inspire Confidence in Your Target Audience

Your clients and audience will mirror your confidence in your business, but how can you build their trust and belief in you?

Social Proof: share success stories, testimonials, or case studies that show your results and experience.

Consistency: confidence is built through reliability. Be sure to show up regularly on your platforms and maintain a clear, authentic brand voice.

Educate: provide valuable insights through blogs, webinars, or newsletters. When your audience learns from you, they trust you as an expert, and you become seen and heard.

Resilience: when you embrace any challenges in your business, you learn and grow and start to see setbacks as opportunities.

Confidence is a journey, not a destination!

Identify the things you are good at to see where you excel and use those strengths in other areas of your life and work. When you focus on your strengths, you develop a strong brand and communicate your ideas confidently to your clients.

By practising self-assurance, projecting it outwardly, and sharing it with your audience, you’ll grow your business and inspire others to believe in you and what you offer.