Here is an article that I dug out from about 4 years ago, but can always be useful.
Have you ever noticed how some people seem to be born leaders? They posses certain qualities that make others want to follow them. Born leaders possess many admirable characteristics, but one of the most crucial to their success is a positive self-image.
People who project a positive self-image are self-confident, responsible, and motivated. These characteristics produce a positive self-image and allow a leader to effect a positive influence on people. To develop self-confidence then, you must focus on improving in these three areas.
Self-confidence
Self-confidence is an attitude of certainty founded on a person’s knowledge, experience, abilities and skills.
To build confidence, you must learn what you need to know to be proficient at your job. If you lack knowledge in a job-related discipline, dedicating yourself to mastering that subject will increase your confidence.
Experience is another confidence booster. Look for opportunities that will enable you to put into practice the knowledge and skills required of your position or the position you are aspiring after.
In essence, you can bolster your self-confidence by recognizing and building on your strengths while working to overcome your weaknesses.
Responsibility
The second component of positive self-image is responsibility, or being responsible. At work, that means doing your job to the best of your ability even when your work is not being scrutinized by a superior.
Employees who work hard even when they are not supervised earn the respect of their peers and become the most likely candidates for career advancement.
Make it a personal goal to see what needs to be done and do it or delegate it appropriately. If you are doing the work yourself, go the extra mile to see that the work exceeds expectations. Try to complete mundane tasks with as much energy and concentration as you do the more challenging and interesting assignments.
Learning how to stay motivated
To develop a positive self-image, you also need to learn how to stay motivated. To maintain your momentum and commitment, you get in the habit of setting goals and timelines for reaching them. Another way to stay motivated is to recall the benefits of attaining a goal during periods when your motivation is waning.
When you develop a positive self-image, you achieve two positive results. First, you begin to feel better about yourself. When you are confident, responsible and motivated, you are less anxious because you are more self-possessed and “in control.” This leads to a change in how others perceive you—the second positive result of projecting a positive self-image.
People who project a positive self-image inspire confidence, responsibility and motivation in others. In this way, you can have a positive influence on your peers and superiors. By projecting a positive self-image, you can inspire others to pursue their goals even when you don’t have any real authority over them.
