As a professional speaker, I have learned a lot about the importance of confidence in my line of work.

It takes confidence to put yourself out there, confidence to believe in yourself, and confidence to get up on that stage in front of an audience of strangers.

Still, the more I do it, the greater my confidence becomes.

For many women, cultivating confidence can feel out of reach and maybe even impossible.

But I am here to tell you that building confidence is not impossible.

Confidence is a skill that can be learned and mastered.

Confidence begins with our ability to believe in ourselves.

I have discovered that one of the best ways we can cultivate belief in ourselves is by owning our strengths.

Many of our strengths as women are unique, and we can bring a different perspective to the world.

By owning our strengths, it helps us to stop obsessing about our weaknesses, keeps us focused on what we can do, and allows us to lead out with those strengths.

If we courageously own our strengths, we can use those strengths to achieve success and build our confidence.

We can also learn important skills that will help us gain greater confidence in life.

Let’s be honest: there are many confidence-building tips that can help women embrace their strengths, overcome their doubts and insecurities, and step into their power with conviction.

These are the seven skills I try to practice regularly to help me remain confident in my personal and professional life.

Acknowledge Your Achievements

We all have achievements, but we rarely acknowledge those achievements. Sometimes, we even take them for granted.

Being the mother of six kids is an achievement I’m proud of. The world may see motherhood differently, but it is a lifetime achievement that women should acknowledge over and over again.

We need to acknowledge our achievements—both big and small.

Whether you completed a project at work, overcame a challenging obstacle, or simply made it through the day with grace and resilience, acknowledge what you were able to accomplish.

This can help boost your confidence and help remind you of what you are capable of.

Challenge Your Negative Self-Talk

If you are anything like me, you are your worst critic.

We need to pay attention to how we talk to ourselves. If the things you say to yourself are cruel and insensitive, check yourself. You wouldn’t say those things to your friends, so why are you saying them to yourself?

If you want to gain confidence, stop sabotaging yourself with the hurtful things you tell yourself about yourself.

Instead of focusing on your weaknesses and past mistakes, practice self-affirmations and celebrate your strengths.

Get rid of the self-criticism and start practicing self-compassion instead.

You may be the greatest threat to your own confidence. If you want to watch your confidence soar, start being kind to yourself.

I promise you will see a difference in your confidence when you start seeing yourself through the eyes of grace.

Step Outside Your Comfort Zone

Whether you believe it or not, growth and confidence go hand in hand.

So if you want to build your confidence, don’t be afraid to try new things. That’s how growth happens.

This means that you need to be willing to step outside of your comfort zone and adopt a growth mindset.

Embrace new challenges with courage and a desire to learn.

Push yourself beyond your perceived limits by learning a new skill, speaking up in a meeting, getting on a stage, or taking on a leadership role.

As you push yourself to try new things, you will strengthen your capabilities, which will boost your confidence.

The more you learn, the more you grow. And the more you grow, the more confident you become.

Surround Yourself with Supportive People

If you want to boost your confidence, find people who will uplift and encourage you in the things that you do.

I would not be the person I am today without my husband and children.

They have supported me so much through the years. And much of my confidence comes from their encouragement and belief in me.

Their belief in me has helped me to gain greater belief in myself.

I feel the same way about the friends and mentors who have helped me through the years. I love the community of people who rally around me to boost me up and give me strength.

We all need people who will believe in our abilities and support our growth.

Find your people.

Having a strong support system can be a valuable source of encouragement and validation as you work to build your confidence.

Practice Assertiveness

An important part of confidence is the ability to express your needs, opinions, and boundaries with conviction and clarity.

As women, assertiveness is sometimes seen as a weakness. But if we aren’t able to express our needs, we can’t be upset when those needs aren’t met.

We need to be able to advocate for ourselves in the workplace. We need to be able to set boundaries in our relationships. And we need to speak up for what we believe in.

The more we learn how to be assertive in asking for what we want, the more confidence we will gain in the other areas of our lives.

This is one of those skills that may seem really uncomfortable at first. But the more you practice it, the better you will be.

Being able to communicate your thoughts and needs will not only boost your confidence but it will also strengthen your relationships.

It’s a powerful skill we, as women, need to master.

Embrace Failure as a Learning Opportunity

If you haven’t figured it out by now, failure is an inevitable part of life.

But failure isn’t a bad thing. It’s a natural part of the learning process.

If we aren’t failing, we aren’t trying.

So don’t let fear of failure hold you back from taking risks and pursuing your goals.

Instead of seeing failure as a stumbling block that is keeping you from your goals, see it as a valuable learning opportunity.

This is another place where that growth mindset can really make a difference in your life.

Each setback we have is a chance to grow and to become stronger. That is how we become resilient.

Resilience is really just our ability to stare failure in the face and keep on moving forward.  

Celebrate Your Uniqueness

We are all different and unique. What makes me who I am is different than what makes you who you are.

This world would be a pretty boring place if we were all the same.

You are special. And you need to recognize that it’s your strengths, talents, and experiences that make you special. Own them, embrace them, and use them to build up confidence in yourself.

Embrace what makes you unique and celebrate your individuality.

When you celebrate your uniqueness, you are embracing your authentic self. And when you embrace your authentic self, you radiate confidence and inspire others to do the same.

You are amazing, just the way you are. Never forget that.

Accepting yourself and celebrating your uniqueness is a powerful skill that can change your life if you let it. It’s one of the best ways to achieve greater confidence.

Building confidence is a journey.

Confidence isn’t about perfection—it’s about progress.

It’s about owning your strengths, embracing your imperfections, and showing up as your true, authentic self throughout the journey.

By owning your strengths and practicing these seven valuable skills, you can cultivate a deep sense of confidence that will help you live life to its fullest.

I haven’t always been confident in my life, but I have always been willing to try.

This, alone, has helped me to gain the confidence I need to step onto every stage.

I promise that if you are willing to try, you, too, will gain the confidence you need to overcome any obstacle life throws at you.

Confidence isn’t something you either have or don’t have. It’s something you cultivate over time.

Ultimately, the journey of building confidence is just as important as the destination.

It’s about embracing the growth process, enjoying the ride, and celebrating who you are every step of the way.