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Building Confidence At Work: Using The Power Of Your Mind

Writer's picture: Mark ReidMark Reid

Updated: Oct 15, 2024


Confidence is a crucial quality in the fast-paced realm of business leadership. Despite extensive experience and notable accomplishments, numerous professionals and business leaders grapple with self-doubt, particularly in high-pressure scenarios such as public speaking.


A recent study conducted in the UK revealed that 74% of individuals experience speech anxiety in their careers, which frequently results in avoidance or reduced performance during critical moments (Statista, 2023).


Having worked as a coach and hypnotherapist, and being the founder of MTR Performance coaching, I have personally witnessed how these methods can assist professionals in conquering anxiety and stress, thereby enabling them to unleash their complete capabilities.


One of the main misconceptions about confidence is that it’s an innate trait—something you either have or don’t. Many believe it’s a static quality tied to personality, but in reality, confidence is a skill that can be developed and strengthened over time.

Woman speaker
Public speaking is a skill that requires mental preparation

Confidence is best defined as “a belief in one's abilities to succeed in specific situations or accomplish a task” (Bandura, 1997). This means it’s situation-specific, and even highly successful individuals can feel uncertain in new or high-pressure environments.


Another misconception is that confidence comes from external validation or accomplishments. While these can contribute to confidence, true self-assurance stems from internal belief, mental preparation, and consistent practice. Studies show that confidence is shaped by positive self-talk, visualisation, and learned experiences

(Stankov, 2013), meaning it’s a mindset rather than a fixed personality trait.


So, how do we combat this? How do leaders and professionals build the confidence they need to excel, even under pressure? The answer lies in mental preparation and visualisation—two tools that can transform the way we approach not just public speaking, but many stressful situations at work.


The Invisible Counsellors Technique: Tapping into Your Inner Wisdom


One powerful method to boost confidence and tackle workplace challenges is the “Invisible Counsellors” technique, popularised by Napoleon Hill in his book "Think and Grow Rich". The premise is simple: create an internal “council” of mentors—figures from history or your personal life—whom you can turn to for guidance and advice in your imagination.


Imagine you’re about to give a presentation to a group of stakeholders. The nerves are kicking in, your palms are sweating, and your mind is racing. Now, picture yourself sitting at a table with Steve Jobs, Winston Churchill or Michelle Obama, and your most trusted colleague. What advice would they give you? How would they handle this situation? By mentally consulting these “counsellors,” you can gain insight and reassurance, allowing you to approach the task with calm and confidence.


By engaging in this practice, you can decrease anxiety and promote problem-solving based on resilience rather than fear. This approach is applicable in various situations, such as getting ready for a meeting, managing conflicts, or navigating uncertainties in decision-making.


Mental Preparation and Visualisation: Seeing Success Before It Happens


Another highly effective tool for boosting confidence is mental preparation, particularly through visualisation. Many top performers, from athletes to CEOs, use visualisation to prepare for important moments by mentally rehearsing success. Studies show that visualisation activates the same neural networks in the brain as physically performing an action, essentially training your brain to expect success (Guillot & Collet, 2008).


Public speaking is a common source of anxiety for professionals, but visualising yourself delivering a flawless presentation can significantly reduce stress and improve performance. Before your next big speech, take time to close your eyes and mentally rehearse the entire event—see yourself walking to the stage, feeling calm and collected, delivering your message clearly, and receiving positive feedback from the audience. Visualising this positive outcome allows you to “experience” success ahead of time, making the real event feel more familiar and less daunting.


A 2019 study found that individuals who practised visualisation before public speaking reported significantly less anxiety and performed better than those who didn’t (Wang et al., 2019). This technique is simple yet powerful, enabling you to mentally prepare for high-stress situations, reduce fear, and build confidence.


Public Speaking: Overcoming Anxiety in the Boardroom and Beyond


For many business leaders, public speaking is a major source of stress. The pressure to perform can amplify self-doubt, making it difficult to project confidence, even when you have the skills and knowledge. But confidence, like any other skill, can be developed with practice.


Let’s take a real-world example. One of my clients, Joseph (not their real name), a CEO of a growing tech company, struggled with public speaking despite excelling in every other aspect of his role. He found that his inner critic would take over before presentations, convincing him that he wasn’t articulate enough or that the audience would judge him. This led to feelings of anxiety, stress, and even avoidance of important opportunities.


Through regular coaching and hypnotherapy sessions, we worked on several key techniques:

1. Relaxation exercises to calm the mind and body before speaking.

2. Visualisation of successful presentations, seeing himself communicate clearly and effectively.

3. The Invisible Counsellors technique to draw confidence from respected figures.

4. Self-hypnosis to reinforce positive thinking and reduce negative self-talk.


Over time, his anxiety decreased, and his confidence grew. By mentally preparing for his speeches and visualising success, he transformed his approach to public speaking, allowing him to communicate with clarity and assurance. This practice not only improved his performance but also enhanced his overall leadership presence.


Daily Confidence Rituals: Building Mental Strength


Confidence doesn’t just appear overnight—it’s built through daily habits and consistent mental preparation. Here are some techniques that you can incorporate into your routine:


1. Morning Visualisation: Begin your day by envisioning a positive result for your most significant obstacle. Whether it's a crucial meeting, a challenging discussion, or a high-pressure presentation, picture yourself handling it with assurance. Utilising subconscious programming is a powerful method to achieve this, and at MTR Performance Coaching, you can regularly practise this as a valuable creative technique during the coaching sessions.

2. The Power of Breath: Practice deep breathing techniques to calm the mind before stressful situations. Slow, controlled breathing signals to your brain that you are safe, reducing anxiety and boosting composure. Read further my blog article for more: https://www.mtrcoaching.com/post/the-power-of-breath-a-workplace-stress-solution


3. Positive Affirmations: Rewire your brain for confidence by repeating positive affirmations, such as “I am capable of handling any challenge,” or “I communicate with clarity and confidence.” Research shows that affirmations can help reduce stress and improve performance in high-pressure situations (Creswell et al., 2005).


4. The 5-Second Rule: When fear or doubt begins to creep in, count down from 5 and take action immediately. This simple technique, developed by Mel Robbins, helps bypass hesitation and build confidence by forcing action before fear takes hold.


Confidence Through Authenticity

Although mental readiness is important, it's essential to keep in mind that genuine confidence stems from staying true to yourself and your principles. Trying to fake confidence or pretending to be someone you're not will ultimately result in increased stress. People in various settings such as meetings, conferences, or negotiations are observant. They can detect insincerity, which may weaken the impact and credibility of your communication.


Confidence should stem from knowing who you are, what you stand for, and communicating those values clearly. Hypnotherapy can play a role in helping individuals align their subconscious beliefs with their conscious goals, ensuring that their actions, words, and thoughts are in harmony. This alignment makes your presence and communication not only more powerful but also more authentic.


A key takeaway here is that confidence isn't just about performing well; it's about being comfortable with who you are. When your actions reflect your true values, you project a level of confidence that goes beyond surface-level bravado—it’s real, and it resonates with others.


Conclusion: Confidence Is a Skill You Can Build


Anxiety and self-doubt are common in the workplace, especially for leaders who are constantly under pressure to perform. But through mental preparation, visualisation, and confidence-building techniques like the Invisible Counsellors method, you can reduce anxiety and unlock your full potential as an authentic leader.


Whether it’s public speaking, decision-making, or navigating stressful situations, confidence is a skill you can build with practice. As a coach and hypnotherapist, I have seen firsthand how these methods can empower professionals to silence their inner critic, perform at their best, and lead with unwavering self-assurance.


By integrating these methods into your everyday life, you will not just decrease anxiety but also cultivate a sense of confidence that will improve your performance, leadership, and overall well-being.


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Author: Mark Tanchoco Reid, Founder of MTR Performance Coaching


References

1. Statista. (2023). Speech anxiety prevalence in the UK. Retrieved from [Statista](https://www.statista.com/statistics/).

2. Hill, N. (1937). Think and Grow Rich. The Ralston Society.

3. Guillot, A., & Collet, C. (2008). Construction of the Motor Imagery Integrative Model in Sport: A Review and Theoretical Investigation of Motor Imagery Use. International Review of Sport and Exercise Psychology, 1(1), 31–44.

4. Wang, Q., Zhang, J., Zhang, H., & Jiang, Y. (2019). Visualizing Success Reduces Public Speaking Anxiety. Frontiers in Psychology, 10, 248.

5. Creswell, J. D., Welch, W. T., Taylor, S. E., Sherman, D. K., Gruenewald, T. L., & Mann, T. (2005). Affirmation of Personal Values Buffers Neuroendocrine and Psychological Stress Responses. Psychological Science, 16(11), 846–851.

6. Bandura, A. (1997). Self-Efficacy: The Exercise of Control. New York: W.H. Freeman.

7. Stankov, L. (2013). Noncognitive predictors of intelligence and academic achievement: Self-confidence and personality. Learning and Individual Differences, 23, 153–158.


Medical Disclaimer: The information on this site is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of a qualified medical professional with any health questions you may have. Do not begin a new medical regimen, or ignore the advice of a medical professional, as a result of information contained within this website.

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