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# How to Be More Confident: 5 Research-Backed Methods

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by 

[Eric Barker](https://time.com/author/eric-barker/)


## Eric Barker


Apr 30, 2014 4:01 AM UTC

by 

[Eric Barker](https://time.com/author/eric-barker/)


## Eric Barker


Apr 30, 2014 4:01 AM UTC

No one doubts the value of confidence. In fact, research shows people often [prefer confidence over actual expertise](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2011/11/do-we-prefer-confidence-or-expertise/).

G. Richard Shell teaches at the Wharton School, and his book [_Springboard: Launching Your Personal Search for Success_](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00C5R7HMU/ref=as%5Fli%5Fss%5Ftl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00C5R7HMU&linkCode=as2&tag=spacforrent-20)_,_ out in [paperback](http://www.amazon.com/Springboard-Launching-Personal-Search-Success/dp/1591847001/ref=tmm%5Fpap%5Ftitle%5F0?ie=UTF8&qid=1398873737&sr=1-1) this week, has a great chapter on how to be more confident.

Here’s what you need to know.

## **Surround Yourself With People Who Believe in You**

I’ve posted a lot about how the [power of context](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2012/04/whats-the-most-effective-way-to-change-you-be/) can improve behavior. And people are a part of that.

**When you’re told you’re good by someone you respect, you believe it.** Partially it’s a [placebo effect](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2011/09/does-the-placebo-effect-work-even-when-you-kn/). But that’s perfectly fine.

This creates a [self-fulfilling prophecy](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2012/11/hope-despair-prophecies/). **When you believe you can do it, you work harder. When others believe in you, they push you harder.**

**Together, these things make you do better—so you have a reason to be confident.** And then next time, confidence comes easier.

Via [_Springboard: Launching Your Personal Search for Success_](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00C5R7HMU/ref=as%5Fli%5Fss%5Ftl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00C5R7HMU&linkCode=as2&tag=spacforrent-20)_:_

---

> “”

---


## **Focus on Learning**

**When you focus on learning, failure is just a part of the process and won’t shake your confidence.** 

Tests are not a gauge of self-worth or unchangeable, innate ability. They’re a measure of how much improvement you’ve made.

Building on [the research of Carol Dweck](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000FCKPHG/ref=as%5Fli%5Fss%5Ftl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B000FCKPHG&linkCode=as2&tag=spacforrent-20), you want to have a “growth mindset”: **Measure yourself by effort, not by results.**

Via [_Springboard: Launching Your Personal Search for Success_](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00C5R7HMU/ref=as%5Fli%5Fss%5Ftl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00C5R7HMU&linkCode=as2&tag=spacforrent-20)_:_

---

> “”

---


## **Create a Ritual**

What gets you in the zone? What gets you feeling ready? A cup of coffee? Preparation and review? Playing a game on your phone?

Recent research from Harvard professors [Michael Norton](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2013/05/harvard-michael-norton-happier/) and [Francesca Gino](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2013/06/francesca-gino/) shows that **rituals have the power to make you more confident.**

Francesca explained in [my interview with her](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2013/06/francesca-gino/):

---

> “”

---


## **Accumulate Small Wins**

Some Olympic athletes train in a way that is _designed_ to build confidence.

Rather than focusing on the gold medal, they **set smaller achievable goals and build from there.**

By seeing themselves accumulate these little wins, their confidence grows and grows until they feel unstoppable.

Via [_Springboard: Launching Your Personal Search for Success_](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00C5R7HMU/ref=as%5Fli%5Fss%5Ftl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00C5R7HMU&linkCode=as2&tag=spacforrent-20)_:_

---

> “”

---


## **It’s Rational to Do the Irrational**

This is a very rational blog. You, however, are not a very rational creature. So **do what works, even if it seems irrational.**

**Research shows good luck charms** **_do_** **inspire confidence.** And this improves performance on a variety of tasks.

Via [_The Courage Quotient: How Science Can Make You Braver_](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0470917423/ref=as%5Fli%5Fss%5Ftl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0470917423&linkCode=as2&tag=spacforrent-20)_:_

---

> “”

---


## **Get to Work**

Yes, some people are naturally superconfident. Others fake it.

And you can, with some work, build confidence.

What did Alfred Binet, the inventor of the IQ test, say about intelligence?

Via [_Springboard: Launching Your Personal Search for Success_](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00C5R7HMU/ref=as%5Fli%5Fss%5Ftl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00C5R7HMU&linkCode=as2&tag=spacforrent-20)_:_

**_It is not always the people who start out the smartest who end up the smartest._**

The same is true of confidence.

**Join 45K+ readers.** Get a free weekly update via email [here](http://eepurl.com/o6uAD).

Related posts: 

[What 10 things should you do every day to improve your life?](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2012/05/what-10-things-should-you-do-every-day-to-imp/)

[What do people regret the most before they die?](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2011/12/what-do-people-regret-the-most-before-they-di/)

[What five things can make sure you never stop growing and learning?](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2012/11/never-stop-growing-learning/)

_This piece originally appeared on_ [_Barking_ _Up the Wrong Tree_](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2013/10/how-to-be-more-confident/)_._

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