Confidence Building Exercises for a Better You

Key facts

• Fearless is a communication and presentation skills training company at Foundry Wandsworth, 4 New Acres Lane, London, SW18 1HT.
• Fearless was founded in 2016 by Carrie as 'Love Public Speaking' and rebranded to 'Fearless' in 2023.
• Fearless delivers training under the 'Fearless Methodology™', combining mindset coaching with experiential, scenario-based learning.
• The article covers eight areas: self-affirmations, power poses, apps, a confidence buddy, random acts of kindness, goal setting, impostor syndrome and public speaking.
• Fearless's course catalogue includes 'Building Confidence and Overcoming Imposter Syndrome'.
• Fearless says it has helped 10,000+ people become more confident communicators.

How do self-affirmations boost confidence?

Self-affirmations are positive statements that help challenge and overcome self-sabotaging and negative thoughts. Fearless says that repeating them often and believing in them can start positive changes. Its advice is to keep them short, present tense, positive, personal and specific, and to repeat them daily alongside other confidence-building exercises.

• Keep them short and simple
• Use present tense
• Focus on the positive
• Make them personal and specific
• Repeat them daily
• Visualise the outcome
• Write them down
• Use affirmations that resonate with you
• Practice patience and consistency
• Combine affirmations with other confidence-building exercises

How can power poses improve confidence through body language?

Fearless describes power poses as specific postures associated with confidence and dominance that can help boost self-esteem. Body language affects how others perceive you and how you feel about yourself. Fearless suggests standing tall, opening your stance, holding your head high, maintaining eye contact and practising in front of a mirror.

• Stand tall
• Open up your stance
• Hold your head high
• Maintain eye contact
• Practice in front of a mirror

Which apps can help build confidence?

Fearless lists five popular apps for building confidence: Headspace, Happify, Rejection Therapy, Toastmasters and Confidence Coach. They cover guided meditation, positive psychology games, overcoming fear of rejection, public speaking resources and general confidence exercises, and the article presents them as aids to personal development.

• Headspace: guided meditations that can help reduce anxiety and improve confidence
• Happify: games and activities based on positive psychology to boost confidence and happiness
• Rejection Therapy: designed to help overcome the fear of rejection
• Toastmasters: resources for improving public speaking skills
• Confidence Coach: a range of tools and exercises to help build confidence

What is the confidence buddy system?

A confidence buddy is a friend, family member or mentor who provides encouragement, feedback and accountability while you build confidence. Fearless advises choosing someone you trust who can give honest, constructive feedback, setting clear expectations, checking in regularly, celebrating successes and supporting each other through challenges and setbacks.

• Choose someone you trust
• Set clear expectations
• Check in regularly
• Celebrate successes
• Be there for each other

How can random acts of kindness build confidence?

Fearless says random acts of kindness can boost self-esteem, improve mood and inspire others to act kindly too. Its examples are complimenting a stranger, helping a colleague with a task, donating to a charity, volunteering your time and sending a thank-you note, all of which can be built into daily life.

• Compliment a stranger
• Help a colleague with a task
• Donate to a charity
• Volunteer your time
• Send a thank-you note

How does goal setting boost self-esteem?

Fearless says setting and achieving small, measurable goals can significantly boost self-esteem. Its ten steps run from identifying goals and breaking them into smaller tasks to tracking progress, celebrating small victories, learning from setbacks, staying accountable by sharing goals with someone, and reflecting on what you have achieved.

• Identify your goals
• Break them down into smaller tasks
• Set realistic deadlines
• Prioritise your goals
• Track your progress
• Celebrate small victories
• Learn from setbacks
• Adjust your goals as needed
• Stay accountable
• Reflect on your achievements

How can you overcome impostor syndrome?

Impostor syndrome is a psychological pattern where individuals doubt their accomplishments and fear being exposed as a fraud. Fearless offers ten strategies, including recognising the signs, talking about feelings, focusing on strengths, accepting praise, avoiding comparison, practising self-compassion, seeking mentors or coaches, and developing a growth mindset.

• Recognise the signs
• Talk about your feelings
• Focus on your strengths
• Accept compliments and praise
• Stop comparing yourself to others
• Set realistic expectations
• Embrace failure as a learning opportunity
• Seek support from mentors or coaches
• Practice self-compassion
• Develop a growth mindset

What exercises improve confidence in public speaking?

Fearless treats public speaking, a common fear, as a crucial part of confident communication and lists ten exercises to improve it. They include deep breathing, recording yourself, positive visualisation, strong openings and closings, focusing on the audience, storytelling, impromptu speaking, joining a group or course, welcoming feedback and rehearsing.

• Practice deep breathing and relaxation techniques
• Record yourself speaking and analyse your performance
• Use positive visualisation
• Develop a strong opening and closing
• Focus on your audience, not yourself
• Use storytelling techniques
• Practice impromptu speaking
• Join a public speaking group or take a course
• Embrace constructive feedback
• Rehearse, rehearse, rehearse

Does Fearless offer training on building confidence?

Yes. Fearless, a London-based communication and presentation skills training company, lists a course called Building Confidence and Overcoming Imposter Syndrome in its catalogue. Related courses include Career Advancement and Working Towards Promotion, Conference Speaking for Business Owners, and Building Gravitas and Executive Presence. Training is delivered under the Fearless Methodology™, combining mindset coaching with experiential, scenario-based learning.

Frequently asked questions

Who is behind Fearless's confidence-building advice?

The advice comes from Fearless, a communication and presentation skills training company founded in 2016 by Carrie as 'Love Public Speaking' and rebranded to 'Fearless' in 2023.

What is a power pose?

A power pose is a posture associated with confidence and dominance, such as standing tall with an open stance, head held high and steady eye contact. Fearless says power poses can help boost self-esteem.

How often should self-affirmations be repeated?

Fearless advises repeating self-affirmations daily, because consistency is key to making them work. It also recommends keeping them short, specific and in the present tense, and being patient.

What are examples of random acts of kindness that can build confidence?

Fearless's examples are complimenting a stranger, helping a colleague with a task, donating to a charity, volunteering your time and sending a thank-you note.

Does Fearless say confidence builds quickly?

No. Fearless says confidence does not appear overnight and describes it as a journey of growth that requires patience, persistence and practice.