13 Habits to Increase Your Self-Confidence

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Becoming a confident person is essential to your success. I’m sure you can agree that when you see someone who is obviously confident in themselves, you take notice.  You may even think, “I wish I had confidence like that.”

We may feel like confidence just comes naturally to some and not to others. However, that isn’t always the case… a lot of factors go into play. Things like having supportive parents or teachers at a young age, or a partner who pushes you, are just two breeders of confidence.

If you are not naturally confident, don’t despair. You can achieve confidence with the knowledge you’ll gain in this article and implementing the action plans provided while establishing good habits.

Confidence can serve you well. Whether you’re breaking the ice at a party with strangers or in a job interview, confidence can help you feel more at ease even in awkward or stressful situations.

What is a Highly Confident Person?

You’ve seen them. Those people who can walk into a room and seemingly gain the attention of people… even before they interact with them. The key to having that kind of confidence comes from being self-assured.

These people recognize their self-worth comes from within, no matter what their circumstances. For a confident person, insecurity is virtually nonexistent.

A confident person is sure about their abilities, success, and beliefs. They exhibit certain traits and form certain habits that define a highly confident person.  

13 Habits to Increase Your Self-Confidence

Here is our list of habits and traits these folks possess, along with actionable steps you can take to become one yourself! Follow along and you will gain and sustain confidence like never before!

1. Learn to say ‘no.’

When you’re confident, saying ‘no’ looks different than if you’re insecure. A confident person recognizes that there are times when ‘no’ is the correct answer. Declining to do a task or meet up with someone may serve you well in keeping what’s most important top of mind.

2. Stay humble.

A confident person will have a modest view of their own significance. They do not think of themselves as being higher or more special than any other human being. In fact, they elevate others and realize that does not diminish them.

3. Take risks.

Confidence can enable people to do things they were once afraid to attempt. They may exhibit a sense of adventure you won’t find in a less confident person.

For instance, think about the last time that you were at an amusement park. Think of the line of people waiting to ride a roller coaster. Remember those that were laughing and excited about the ride? They couldn’t wait until it was their turn. They were confident.

Now think of those that were quieter and looked a bit nervous. They had already convinced themselves it was going to be a scary ride. They had no confidence and were probably riding to appease someone else.

4. Only compete with yourself.

No matter how tempting it is to compete with others, especially in the office, a confident person will only compete with himself. Each day he will try to become a better person than he was the day before.

5. Be non-judgmental.

Have you noticed that highly confident people don’t stoop to judging others? Instead of focusing on someone else’s failings, they are more focused on their own life and how they can improve. It takes a lot of energy and bandwidth to judge others, and a confident person will find better uses for their time and energy.

6. Be comfortable in your own skin.

A confident person will accept many things about themselves that they would otherwise want to change. Whether it’s their weight or appearance, their self-assurance in who they are will win out over feelings of inadequacy.

7. You don’t always have to be right.

Have you ever noticed how a confident person will admit when he is wrong? Their worth as a person is not wrapped up in perfection.

8. Understand that you do not have all the answers.

A confident person doesn’t need to know everything to be able to accept themselves and be content. He will find it perfectly acceptable to ask others who are more knowledgeable for advice or help.

9. Know how to lavish praise onto others.

Confidence brings out the best in people, and that includes how they treat others. Rather than bragging about themselves, they make an effort to celebrate the successes of others. Not only that, but a confident person will find joy in praising others.

They know that applauding someone else does not diminish their own personal worth. They also know that pouring praise into someone will build up that person. Richard Branson said, “Lavish praise on people and people will flourish, criticize people and they’ll shrivel up.”

10. Speak with confidence.

Have you ever noticed that a confident person exhibits certain traits when speaking with someone? They maintain eye contact instead of looking up or down or off to the side. They also accept their own weaknesses and don’t mind sharing them with others.

11. Know how to be a good listener.

A confident person finds it easy to listen to others. They realize that hearing what others have to say can enrich their worldview and allow them to understand different perspectives.

Sometimes it’s easy to offer solutions immediately when a problem is presented, but listening to the full explanation can help you formulate better solutions and allow others to see you as someone they can trust to provide a well-thought-out answer.

12. Be ok with not getting all (or any) of the credit.

Confidence will give you enough self-assurance that you will not feel a need to take credit for everything you and your team accomplish. A confident person, instead, gives credit to others and empowers them to want to achieve more.

13. Accept criticism graciously.

A confident person does not get upset when criticized. Instead, whether they agree with the criticism or not, they accept it graciously.

They know they have the power to use offered feedback to change or to ignore it if it doesn’t enrich their lives or further their careers.

Final Thoughts on Habits to Increase Your Self-Confidence

Once you take action toward adopting the habits and traits in this article, not only will you feel more confident… but others will most certainly notice your new-found confidence. They will watch the way in which you conduct yourself, how you walk and how you interact with others. You will exude confidence!

Acting on the suggestions in this article will work best for you when you use them often enough that they become a habit. A study included in the European Journal of Social Psychology states that it takes between 18 and 254 days for a person to form a habit.  The same study indicated that for the behavior to become routine, it takes 66 days.

So, while it may seem like you have your work cut out for you, this is not something that should derail your journey of self-improvement.  Once the habits form and your mindset conforms, you’ll find yourself experiencing more confidence in your day-to-day life.

So much so, in fact, you’ll be hard pressed to remember the days when you lacked such confidence.  You’ll now have the opportunity to find more success in your career, relationships and overall wellbeing.

Finally, if you need help with building habits, then check out this nine-step blueprint that walks you through the entire process of creating lifelong habits.)