Since it still isn’t the norm yet, I am often asked how to build confidence in business as a woman. 

Although I believe the sexes are equal, there are some unique challenges we face as women when it comes to confidence. This is especially true in the business world. 

Yet Why Do Business Women Struggle with Confidence?

First, statistics show we aren’t alone in this. According to a study by the National Bureau of Economic Research, close to 80% of women deal with low self-esteem and shy away from self-advocacy at work. 

Certainly, part of the reason why we women struggle to build confidence in business is that it has been a “man’s world” for so long. 

Nonetheless, to lay ALL the blame on the prevalence of men in the industry would be irresponsible — and a disservice to us ladies! 

Many men deal with confidence issues too. But often they are just better at hiding it while they develop their “swagger.” 

As women, we have all the resources to “fake it until we make it” as well.

So, what can you do to take your confidence to new heights?

Follow These 10 Tips & Tricks to Boost Your Confidence as a Woman in Business

1. Review Your Beliefs 

Feeling like you are standing in your own way would shake anyone’s confidence — male or female.

The good news is it isn’t you…

Your limiting beliefs are the ones tripping you up. 

Dress yourself in confidence every day. #buildanmpire #empirebuilder #elenacardone #10xladies

— Elena Cardone (@ElenaCardone) April 28, 2020

Therefore, to start building confidence in business, you must re-evaluate your belief system. 

This is NOT referring to religion or morals, by the way…

Take a step back, assess your ideas, and see how many are actually misconceptions.

For example, a common misconception I struggled with is “money will change you.” Most of the time, it implies the change is for the worse.

Ideas like these work against your confidence to pursue your goals. 

Take a good look at this, and throw any ideas which negate success in the trash. 

You will not only feel a huge relief — but also more confidence.

2. Replace Negativity with Positivity

Throughout history, negativity has broken aspiring actresses, hindered forward-thinking inventors, and silenced musicians. 

Now, it is up to you to get rid of the negativity in your environment to keep it from killing your confidence. 

In contrast to what negativity takes away from you, think about what positivity would add to your life as a substitute. Some benefits to consider are:

• Increased motivation and energy
• Higher levels of productivity
• Courage to share ideas without fear of judgment
• Empowering network of women
• And, of course, bulletproof confidence

Generally speaking, people are attracted to positive individuals. 

When people want to work with you, it only strengthens your self-esteem.

Then, once potential business partners approach you for collaborations, you can start making use of my next pointer. 

3. Find Your Superpower

Next, I need you to ask yourself a very important question:

WHAT IS THE #1 STRENGTH WHICH MAKES YOU DIFFERENT FROM EVERYONE ELSE?

If you are having trouble identifying your strength, ask the 10 closest people in your life what they admire about you. 

Aside from being a confidence booster in and of itself, acknowledging your superpower helps you hone in on your natural strength. Once you find it, use it, and don’t worry about other areas where you may come up short. 

There are different members of the Avengers because they have different abilities. They do what they do best. So should you. 

At the same time, becoming a confident woman in business does NOT mean resting on your laurels. 

4. Expand Your Skill Set

We just discussed playing to your strengths. Therefore, it is logical that the more skills you have, the more certain you will be about the qualities you bring to the table.

After all, being successful in different areas of your life feels great! It is even better if those activities are difficult, so I encourage you to get out of your comfort zone. 

In my case, it means: 

• Pushing myself with different physical activities
• Attending workshops and investing in personal development
• Expanding into new business ventures

The approach you take is totally up to you, but you have to keep growing. Otherwise, you will fall behind, which WILL affect your confidence. 

Part of self-improvement is discipline. Discipline is simply building your muscle and doing what you say you are going to do – each and every time. You need to build a mental muscle.

— Elena Cardone (@ElenaCardone) July 4, 2022

5. Establish Boundaries

In reality, it is impossible to feel good about yourself when your boundaries are being violated constantly. 

But if you don’t even know what your boundaries are, how can you expect others to know?

While it is necessary to take risks and try new things, it is equally important to know when something will be detrimental to you. 

There are obvious examples of activities, people, and projects which go against your personal ethics.

Then, there are subtle boundaries, such as knowing when you are getting too tired to work effectively. 

Being a confident woman in business doesn’t mean you say “yes” to everything. 

If you establish, communicate, and impose clear boundaries, people will respect them.

6. Stop Apologizing

Now, there’s nothing wrong with saying “I’m sorry”… Except when you do it too much.

Don’t get me wrong. When you mess up, apologizing is 100% the right thing to do. 

At the same time, saying it repeatedly AND for things outside of your control doesn’t scream “self-esteem.” 

There are more opportunities to showcase your skills and fuel your confidence when you are not overly apologetic. 

You have developed your abilities. Don’t diminish your efforts. 

7. Move with Purpose

The most powerful person in the world is someone who has a rock-solid purpose.

Why?

When you have a purpose, it fuels you to be intentional and assertive in your actions. 

When you are crystal clear on your purpose, it solidifies the importance of your success for you. 

As a result, there is no choice but to be confident — because failure no longer is an option. 

In extreme situations, moms have moved cars out of the way to save their children, pursuing their purpose as a mother at work.

Imagine what you could do with that same drive fueling your confidence in business ventures… 

8. Build an Empowering Network

I’m sure you’ve heard it a thousand times in the entrepreneurial space: 

YOUR NETWORK IS YOUR NET-WORTH

By the same token, your network can be pivotal to building your confidence in business as a woman. 

When you surround yourself with like-minded people, your efforts will speed up while supporting your purpose. And we just talked about how strong that is!

Being on the same page as everyone else on your team sparks creativity, collaboration, and self-esteem. 

No one can build an empire alone. The people surrounding you are a critical part of its foundation, so make sure your network is strong. 

9. Give Back

Charity is one of the greatest feelings in the world. Not only that, but helping others makes you feel more capable. 

Actions which result in you making a difference have an incredible effect on your self-worth. That feeling makes you want to do more. 

Philanthropy, volunteering, or even helping friends and family are their own rewards. The confidence is just a bonus.

10. Take Care of Yourself

Self-care and self-confidence go hand in hand.

There are plenty of ways to congratulate yourself for the small things like getting through a tough workout, clearing out your inbox, or tidying your space.

Make the time to put on nice clothes, do your hair, makeup, or nails. You know it always feels better when you get out of the sweats. 

Self-care reminds yourself that you are important too. After all, isn’t knowing your value a big part of your confidence? 

Start Building Your Confidence in Business as a Woman Today

To sum up, I’ve given you a lot of information to get started building confidence in business as a woman. 

Nonetheless, you might have noticed a lot of the strategies take some further steps on your part, which can be a little intimidating. 

Don’t worry. I got you. 

I have an entire book, “Build an Empire,” with exercises to get you on the right track for your relationships, business, and confidence. 

Whatever tools or resources you use, NOW is the time to create the life you deserve. 

Build an Empire,

Elena Cardone

Disclosure: This content is intended to be used for educational and informational purposes only. Individual results may vary. You should perform your own due diligence and seek the advice from a professional to verify any information on our website or materials that you are relying upon if you choose to make an investment or business decision. Investment, real estate, and business involve great risk and there is no guarantee of performance or results.

We are not attorneys, investment advisers, accountants, tax professionals or financial advisers and any of the content presented should not be taken as professional advice. We recommend seeking the advice of financial professional before you invest, and we accept no liability whatsoever for any loss or damage you may incur.