Let’s be honest: being a woman in business can sometimes feel like you’re constantly balancing between showing up confidently and dealing with that nagging self-doubt. Whether you’re gearing up for a big client pitch, posting on social media, or just getting through the daily grind, confidence can make or break how you present yourself to the world.
And too many women sit in a negative feedback loop of ‘I’m just not a confident person’, which is a total lie.
Because confidence is a skill. And like any skill, you can learn it, and you can grow it.
So here are 10 confidence hacks I believe every woman in business needs to know so that they can show up confidently online and offline in life AND in business.
1. Overcoming Spotlight Syndrome
Ever feel like everyone’s watching your every move? This is called “spotlight syndrome,” and it’s just in your head. Most people are too busy focusing on themselves to notice your so-called flaws.
The hack? Realise you’re not in the spotlight as much as you think. Once you let go of that anxiety, you’ll feel much more at ease in social settings or online.
2. The Pratfall Effect: Embrace Your Imperfections
This might feel counter intuitive, but the more vulnerable and authentic you are, the more relatable you become, because studies show that people tend to like you more when you’re imperfect.
The hack? Don’t strive for perfection- let your flaws shine and flip your perceived weaknesses into strengths. Authenticity is the key to connection, which is far more powerful than being “perfect” ever could be.
3. Set Micro-Goals for Your Day
Big goals can feel overwhelming, but confidence comes from small wins. The “Zeigarnik effect” is the psychological phenomenon where unfinished tasks stick in your mind more than completed ones – and when you break your big tasks into smaller things you can tick off your to-do list, this sense of accomplishment builds momentum and confidence.
The hack? Confidence is built through small, consistent progress. Each micro-goal you accomplish gives you that boost you need to tackle bigger things.
4. Break Your Own Rules
Sometimes the biggest barrier to confidence is the rulebook we create for ourselves. Doing something you’ve always told yourself you couldn’t do – like speaking up in a meeting or rocking that bold outfit – will stretch your comfort zone.
The hack? Confidence grows every time you break a self-imposed rule. Challenge your own limits and see what happens.
5. Self-Distancing for Negative Thoughts
We’re all our own worst critics, right? But when that negative self-talk creeps in, there’s a powerful trick: self-distancing. When you catch yourself in a spiral, speak to yourself in the third person as if you were giving advice to a friend.
The hack? This technique reduces the emotional intensity of self-doubt and helps you think more clearly.
6. The Pygmalion Effect: Believe in Your Own Potential
Confidence comes from self-belief. The “Pygmalion effect” shows that when you believe in your own potential, you’re more likely to succeed. In other words, your mindset shapes your reality, aka “delulu is the solulu”.
The hack? Set higher expectations for yourself and believe in your ability to meet them.
7. The Illusory Truth Effect: Repeat Positive Affirmations
Ever hear that if you repeat something enough times, your mind starts to believe it’s true? That’s the illusory truth effect. Use this to your advantage by repeating positive affirmations, because the subconscious brain does not know the difference between reality and imagination.
The hack? Daily affirmations can train your mind to accept confidence as your new reality.
8. Power Posing and Embodied Cognition
Your body language influences your emotions by changing how our hormones in our body affect in short. Try standing tall in a superwoman pose for two minutes – arms wide, chest lifted – and feel your stress hormones lowering and your confidence rising.
The hack? Strike a power pose before any big moment. It’s scientifically proven to increase feelings of confidence.
9. The “Just 1% Better” Rule
You don’t need to leap tall buildings in a single bound. Focus on being just 1% better each day. Over time, small improvements build lasting confidence as our brain gets the dopamine hits that we need in order to create positive momentum. Overnight successes aren’t a thing, so stop trying to make everything happen right away.
The hack? Small, consistent steps forward are what build real confidence.
10. Swish Pattern – Replace Negative Visualisations with Positive Ones
Do you find that negative thoughts have you in a chokehold? Use the NLP swish pattern to visualise shrinking those images and replacing them with powerful, positive visualisations.
The hack? Instead of imagining what could go wrong, train your brain to imagine what could go right instead, and over time this will become your default.
Building confidence takes time, but by using these simple hacks, you can start feeling more empowered in both your personal and professional life.
Whether you’re getting on camera for the first time or stepping into a big meeting, remember: confidence isn’t about perfection, it’s about progress.
About Elisabeth Carley-Leonard
Elisabeth Carley-Leonard is the founder of Vibes & Visibility, a social media agency dedicated to helping female entrepreneurs show up confidently online. With a passion for empowering women to embrace their authenticity, Elisabeth combines strategic social media expertise with confidence coaching, helping women-led businesses elevate their online presence and thrive.
Want to learn more about how Vibes & Visibility can help you own your space online? Click here to learn more.
By Elisabeth Carley-Leonard, founder of Vibes and Visibility
https://vibesandvisibility.com
