For people to accept that your service or product stands above the comparative ones in the market, you need the confidence to back it. Whatever stage you are at in your business venture, you need to act with professionalism and conviction.
Dress the part
Leave the casual clothes for Sunday and the business attire to perform business. When you take care of your appearance and feel good about yourself, it changes the way you interact with other people. How formal you dress will depend on the nature of your meeting and client – you want to make them feel comfortable in your presence and not intimidated. Stand up straight to look alert, engaged and confident. The more confident you look and appear, the more seriously you will be taken in a professional environment.
Cut out the negative thoughts
Self-doubt can cripple confidence and suppress productivity. Believe in your product and your ability to make it happen. You will receive criticism, negative feedback and fierce competition so it is important to grow a thick skin and keep pursuing. Mistakes will happen, but see this as constructive and a way to learn. Every successful entrepreneur will tell you they didn’t get it right first time. Learn to let go of the small things and do not obsess over your performance in every meeting – negative thoughts and self-criticism will be destructive to you and your business.
Find the balance
You will soon realise the business owner’s dream of flexibility and free time is elusive. The company’s success depends on your hard work and input, but for optimum performance, you need to rest your entrepreneurial brain and body. Save your weekends (or at least some of it) for time with your friends and family, or whatever you find relaxing. It is important to start the week well rested and productive.
Reach out
A common mistake of many new business operators is trying to do all the tasks. You may be great at what you do, but you are not the best at everything. It is also not possible to try to do everything without exhausting yourself. It is not a weakness to seek professional help in the areas you lack skill, or even just to get advice from people who have been through the process.
Upskill Yourself
If you feel incompetent in an area of work, learn a new skill to grow your confidence. You are not expected to be an expert in all areas of business, but the greater your holistic understanding of business, the more confident you will feel in meetings and carrying out daily operations.
Act with a vison
How are you going to achieve your goals if you don’t know what they are? During the initial stages of business, you should be regularly checking your goals and progress to see if they are aligned. Start each day with your short-term projections and what you need to do to achieve them. More importantly, possess the self-confidence to believe your goals can transpire.