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So, when it comes to starting out as a business owner, you’re not going to know everything. It doesn’t really matter if you went to business school, watched tutorials, or even did an online course for entrepreneurship. You’re always going to be hit with something that you don’t really know much about. With that said, however, this all still requires a delicate balance between confidence and uncertainty. As a new business owner, you may find yourself navigating uncharted waters and facing challenges that test your resolve and capabilities.
You want to do what you can to benefit your business, and believe it or not, scrambling for answers and acting nervous (even if you feel this way) just won’t be the answer. Just think about how business owners tend to act; they’re confident and assertive, they know what they want, and they know what to do! This is exactly what you need to think about!
Basically, you’ll need to fake it until you make it. Sure, this sounds crazy, right? But projecting confidence and competence, even when you’re still finding your footing, can inspire trust and attract opportunities. But where exactly do you start?
Start By Cultivating a Positive Mindset
As generic as the advice might sound, confidence begins from within. So, when it comes to cultivating a positive mindset, the foundation for projecting confidence and competence to the outside world all starts with it. Basically, you’ll want to start acknowledging your strengths, skills, and accomplishments, no matter how small they may seem! So visualize success, set realistic goals, and affirm your ability to overcome challenges.
But of course, it’s not just about believing in yourself (granted, it’s still a huge part). You’re also going to want to educate yourself. Honestly, this can come in so many forms, but you need to know your industry, understand what makes your business better than your competition, you’ll need to understand your tax obligation, like looking into an SS4 form filing guide for help, and so on. Basically, you still need to educate yourself and know the ins and outs because being educated and knowing that you’re doing everything properly means that you’ll be boosting your confidence!
Dress the Part
They say that clothes make the person, and there’s truth to that statement (well, to a degree). Depending on what you’re doing for your business, there’s a chance that dressing the part of a successful business owner can significantly impact how others perceive you—and how you perceive yourself.
You don’t have to pressure yourself to wear a suit or anything like that, especially if you’re literally working from home. But at least dressing the part will help you build up the confidence, and again, you’ll look more like the part, too.
Master the Art of Communication
This ties back into confidence, and again, if you’re trying to fake it til you make it, then this is the area that you have to master. Seriously, you have to get this absolutely perfect! You can’t stumble and fumble on your words—it never looks good for a professional to do that—ever. Ideally, you’ll want to practice active listening, ask thoughtful questions, and articulate your ideas and vision with clarity and conviction.
On top of these, you’ll also want to pay attention to your body language, maintaining eye contact, and adopting a confident posture. So, at first glance, these things seem little, but they really make an impact (even on a subconscious level too!)
