Have you ever wondered why so many high achievers have low confidence? Or why imposter syndrome seems to be the flipside of talent? Well, there’s a simple explanation.  The very traits that propel talented professionals towards success can also undermine confidence. For example, most high achievers have exceptional levels of self-discipline. But that can mean they never take breaks – which is a guaranteed way to burn out and destroy your confidence. In fact, I’ve seen so many talented professionals fall into this trap that I’ve made it my mission to help. That’s why I created the Complete Confidence Lab, which is enrolling now.

In the Complete Confidence Lab, I explain three paradoxical thinking patterns which can snare you in a cycle of imposter syndrome and low confidence. Do you relate to any of them? I sure do!

The competence myth

This is the belief that you can’t be confident unless you know how to do everything. Think about it. That’s an impossible standard to live up to. If you believe the competence myth, chances are you ‘re constantly comparing yourself to others and finding yourself lacking. Obviously, that’s one of the fastest ways to destroy your confidence. So, stop equating competence and confidence. They’re not the same thing.

The control myth

Have you ever been told you’re too controlling? Or do you joke about being a control freak? If so, you’re probably under the spell of the control myth. This is the belief that being in control will make you feel confident.  But here’s the truth – nobody can control everything. Trying to do so will only lead to stress and anxiety, not confidence. It’s time to explore how genuinely self-assured people tackle life. Spoiler alert: it’s all about learning to thrive in uncertainty.

The high standards myth

Yikes. This one is tricky to beat. That’s because having standards is so strongly associated with success. And it’s true that high standards are great… up to a point. However, too much of a good thing can be damaging.  It leads to perfectionist overworking and constant self-criticism. Both of which feed imposter syndrome.

Do these thinking patterns sound familiar? If so, you’d be a great candidate for the Complete Confidence Lab. Check it out here and join me in breaking free from imposter syndrome and building lasting confidence.

This article was created by Eleanor Shakiba

Eleanor is a leadership trainer and success coach. Her mission is inspiring talented people to become leaders who make a difference.  Since discovering her passion for training and development, Eleanor has trained more than 60,000 people. She delivers face-to-face workshops for corporates, online masterclasses for leaders and Positive Psychology retreats for trainers, HR practitioners and leaders. 

Are you ready to take your professional success to the next level? Look no further!  The way to get there is by harnessing the power of complete confidence. And there’s a simple formula for doing that: program your brain’s confidence circuits; swap self-defeating behaviour for success regimes and use breakthrough thinking to unearth great solutions every time you hit problems. These are the thinking habits that hardwire your brain for confidence. Now let’s look at each step in more detail. Remember, the key is to practice, practice and practice until each thinking habits become second nature. My favourite way to master new thinking habits is to choose ONE to focus on each week. Whenever opportunities arise to use the thinking tool, try it out. Soon, using it will be automatic and you can move onto mastering the next skill.

Program your brain’s confidence circuits

It’s sad but true. Your brain is built to keep you alive, not make you confident. This is why is seems easier to focus on where you went wrong, rather than what you did right. But thankfully, the brain is a bit like plastic – it can be moulded and reshaped to support new habits. To make confidence your default state, you need to do two things.

First, you must strengthen your self-belief circuits. Then you must weaken your self-sabotage circuits. Use the power of mental rehearsal to achieve both outcomes. First, imagine a fully confident version of yourself. Then imagine that New You thriving in situations where the old you struggled. Do this every day to activate the neural pathways support confident states.

Swap self-sabotaging behaviours for success regimes

From avoiding conflict to zealous over-working, there are a thousand ways to sabotage yourself every day. To be truly confident swap your self-limiting habits for success regimes. For example, instead of putting off difficult tasks, make a habit of doing them first thing. Or learn to raise issues assertively instead of avoiding tough conversations. Think about the behaviours that are holding you back and replace them with actions that drive success.

Use breakthrough thinking to solve problems

News flash: confident people encounter as many problems as you do.  But they tackle them differently. They don’t dwell on what the problem is or how bad it feels. Instead, they focus on finding solutions. This is where breakthrough thinking comes in. It’s a skill I teach in my free masterclass, Hardwired for Confidence. So, if you haven’t learned how to do it, sign up and learn today!

Remember that confidence isn’t a personality trait. It’s a skill that can be learned at any age. By programming your brain’s confidence circuits, swapping self-sabotaging behaviours for success regimes, and using breakthrough thinking to overcome problems, you can boost your confidence and achieve greater success in all aspects of your life. So what are you waiting for? Start using these thinking habits today and watch as your confidence soars!

This article was created by Eleanor Shakiba

Eleanor is a leadership trainer and success coach. Her mission is inspiring talented people to become leaders who make a difference.  Since discovering her passion for training and development, Eleanor has trained more than 60,000 people. She delivers face-to-face workshops for corporates, online masterclasses for leaders and Positive Psychology retreats for trainers, HR practitioners and leaders. 

What do high-impact communicators do differently to the rest of us? They don’t necessarily speak more often or in greater detail. In fact, many highly influential professionals speak less than the average person. Firstly, they speak with confidence and from a position of strength rather than self-doubt.

Secondly, impactful communicators choose their words carefully. They have mastered the art of verbal framing. This skill involves carefully selecting and arranging your words, so your message becomes easier for listeners to absorb. For example, imagine you’re trying to persuade a colleague to agree to an idea you’re proposing. You could focus on what’s in it for them – highlighting how your proposal will make THEM look good or get ahead. Alternatively, you could explain how the idea will help YOU. Which approach do you think will be most successful?

If you chose the first option, you’re spot on. Research has shown that framing to match your colleague’s needs is way more likely to succeed. Here are three quick tips that will take your framing skills to the next level.

Forget about yourself and focus on them

Persuasive frames directly appeal to your listener’s needs and interests. Take the time to understand what others want and why they want it. Then deliver your message in a way that resonates with them. By doing so, you’ll speak to impress! You’ll also sound more confident because your attention will be turned towards them. That reduces the likelihood you’ll be struck by stage-fright, as you’ll be less likely to ruminate and worry about what might go wrong in the conversation.

Use concrete, specific language

The more specific your language, the better others will understand and respond to what you’re saying. Instead of saying “This will help our team succeed,” try something like “This will help achieve our target of increasing sales by 10% this month.” Specificity adds weight to your message by fitting it into the listener’s real-life experience.

Speak to connect

As an NLP trainer, I can assure you that words matter. To effectively communicate, you need to speak the other person’s language, not your own. Listen attentively to what others say. Pay close attention to the words they emphasise or use passionately. Then use those words useful. This deepens rapport and also makes your message easier to understand. By matching your conversation partner’s language, you can help your message get through without resistance.

If you want to be more flowing, persuasive and impactful in your communications, remember these three tips. After all, confident communicators don’t just speak with self-assurance, they also know how to frame a message in ways that connect and resonate with others.

This article was created by Eleanor Shakiba

Eleanor is a leadership trainer and success coach. Her mission is inspiring talented people to become leaders who make a difference.  Since discovering her passion for training and development, Eleanor has trained more than 60,000 people. She delivers face-to-face workshops for corporates, online masterclasses for leaders and Positive Psychology retreats for trainers, HR practitioners and leaders. 

In 2006 I wanted to set up my own business. But something was holding me back: a deep-seated fear of uncertainty. I lay awake imagining everything that could go wrong: losing all my savings, never finding any customers and feeling like a complete failure. Luckily, I had a great coach. He asked me to list everything I was worried about. Then he asked, “What would happen if everything turned out all right?” Suddenly it hit me. Uncertainty can go both ways. It was time to step out of my comfort zone and into my impact zone.

My biggest lesson since then has been this: success rarely comes without uncertainty. Whether you’re starting a business, changing careers or beginning a new relationship, there will always be risks and unknowns. There’s no point trying to eliminate uncertainty.  Instead, learn how to manage it. Here are my favourite two ways to do this.

Challenge your brain’s reaction to uncertainty

Remember, your brain is built to avoid risk.  It’s constantly scanning for threats and seeking to ways protect you. But sometimes this ‘negativity bias’ can work against you. When your brain reacts to uncertainty by triggering your fear reaction, challenge it. Ask yourself these three questions.

• Is this fear based on facts or is it just my brain trying to keep me comfortable?
• What opportunities might I be missing out on if I let this fear hold me back?
• What are the potential benefits of accepting uncertainty right now?

Expand your time horizon

During a fear reaction, your brain focuses on the short-term.  That makes sense because it’s trying to protect you in the here-and-now. However, it also means you may be missing out on the bigger picture. When faced with uncertainty, try expanding your time horizon and creating a vision of how you want the future to be.

Ask yourself these three questions.

• How might this situation look in a week? In a month? In a year?
• What are my ultimate goals and how does this uncertainty fit into them?
• Am I willing to sacrifice potential long-term success for short-term comfort?

So the next time uncertainty comes knocking at your door, don’t greet it with fear. Open the door, invite it in and spend time learning to love it. Just like a stray cat, it might turn out to be a source of great joy and opportunity.  And if you need any further convincing, just look to some of the most successful entrepreneurs, innovators and leaders in history. They all have one thing in common: they willingly embraced uncertainty and used it to their advantage.

This article was created by Eleanor Shakiba

Eleanor is a leadership trainer and success coach. Her mission is inspiring talented people to become leaders who make a difference.  Since discovering her passion for training and development, Eleanor has trained more than 60,000 people. She delivers face-to-face workshops for corporates, online masterclasses for leaders and Positive Psychology retreats for trainers, HR practitioners and leaders. 

Do you ever find yourself stuck in a cycle of self-sabotaging behaviours? It’s soooo frustrating, isn’t it? The sensible part of you is saying ‘No! Don’t do this again’. Meanwhile, that other part of you is whispering ‘It’s easier to do it this way’ or ‘I’ll quit tomorrow’. Sigh. Why do you keep doing this?

Well, the answer is simple: you are getting a ‘secondary gain’ out of it. A secondary gain is a reward, either tangible or psychological, that you are reaping from your behaviour. This benefit can range from feeling comforted, to gaining attention or avoiding responsibilities.

Yes, it’s sad but true: self-sabotaging behaviours have hidden benefits. That’s why smart people do things they know they shouldn’t. For instance, imagine a successful team leader who works long hours. She really resents working harder than anyone else. However, she keeps coming in early and staying back late. That’s because she is hooked on the praise she gets from her manager for handing in ‘perfect’ work. The praise is her secondary gain.

Knowing this gives the team leader a way to break her workaholic cycle for good. You see, if she finds a healthier way to do high-quality work, she won’t need to overwork. She could train her team to help her out, delegate more and focus on working strategically instead of being so hands-on.

You can use this approach to habit change, too. If you identify what the secondary gain of any ‘bad’ habit is, you’ll be able to get some gain without the pain! Try this technique on any of these Top 10 low confidence  habits:

1. Over-eating
2. Procrastinating
3. People-pleasing
4. Working too hard
5. Perfectionism
6. Saying ‘yes’ when you want to say ‘no’
7. Arguing
8. Being disorganised
9. Putting yourself down
10. Staying out of the limelight

Remember,  no one is trapped forever in their ‘bad’ habits!  You can consciously choose to see the bigger picture, and make a plan to break your habit cycle. With an understanding of secondary gain as your guide, you can take steps towards creating healthier behaviour patterns.

This article was created by Eleanor Shakiba

Eleanor is a leadership trainer and success coach. Her mission is inspiring talented people to become leaders who make a difference.  Since discovering her passion for training and development, Eleanor has trained more than 60,000 people. She delivers face-to-face workshops for corporates, online masterclasses for leaders and Positive Psychology retreats for trainers, HR practitioners and leaders. 

Are you surrounded by people who seem way more confident than you? Well, let me share a secret: many people APPEAR confident, but that doesn’t mean they’re naturally self-assured. It’s certainly not true that some people are ‘born confident’ or that confidence is part of your personality. Just like imposter syndrome, low confidence is caused by lots of factors. All of which you can overcome! Watch this week’s video for some insights into the real cause of imposter syndrome. Which is also one of the triggers for low confidence.

You see, confidence is not ‘part’ of you. It’s a mindset, which is  driven by your belief in your abilities. And those beliefs can change at any stage of  your life. In fact, brain research shows that you can rewire your brain and change your thinking habits from the cradle to the grave. And that’s great news. It means you’re never too young to be confident and… you’re never too old to be confident!

You can learn to activate confidence by mastering a few mind-management tools. I recommend using  Neuro Linguistic Programming (NLP) to build your emotional mastery, because they are quick to learn. For example, you can use NLP to trigger a confident state just by focusing your attention the right way. Did you know that your brain can’t tell the difference between what is real and what is imagined? That means you can change your mood just by using your imagination and your memory. Many NLP state management tools help you do this.

Try this easy technique right now. Close your eyes and remember a time you WERE confident in the past. Replay that memory, paying attention to what you saw,  heard and felt during that confident experience.  Make the memory as vivid as you can.  Use all your senses as you remember how you ‘coded’ your confidence. You’ll soon notice yourself feeling more confident in real time. That’s because you’ve just activated your ‘confidence pathways’.

Thousands of people use NLP every day. And why is that? Because it’s fastest and easiest way to change your thinking and change your state. If you’d like more tips on using NLP or on building complete confidence, come along to one of my online classes. I’d love to help you master the art of confident thinking!

This article was created by Eleanor Shakiba

Eleanor is a leadership trainer and success coach. Her mission is inspiring talented people to become leaders who make a difference.  Since discovering her passion for training and development, Eleanor has trained more than 60,000 people. She delivers face-to-face workshops for corporates, online masterclasses for leaders and Positive Psychology retreats for trainers, HR practitioners and leaders. 

Time to come clean. I’m a control freak. And I’m not the only one! In times of uncertainty many people react by trying to regain control. But that’s not a healthy way to lead yourself, your team or your business.

So, how can you tell that your ‘organised mindset’ is actually a sign that you’re in full-blown control freak mode? Here are three signs that are dead giveaways.

1. You’re stressing out about people knowing you’re stressing out

Yep, you’re not the only one who does this! It’s a surprisingly common way of thinking among people with imposter syndrome, a distorted, unhelpful form of ‘metacognition’.

2. You believe you are 100 percent responsible for your own success

You give yourself no leeway. If something goes wrong, you scold yourself. Then you start working on making it go right again. You say things like “failure isn’t an option” and there’s no such thing as good enough.” You over-schedule, over-commit and over-work. And still, you want to achieve more

No. It’s not ambition or a good work ethic. It’s a sign your confidence very likely needs a reboot.

3. You self-compassion battery is totally flat.

Self-compassion is a form of support and nurturing you give yourself when you make mistakes, face embarrassing situations, or encounter adversity. It’s like a battery; when it’s low, you don’t have the energy to enjoy your life. But t it can be recharged – and there are good reasons to keep it fully charged.

Paul Gilbert is a research scientist who studies the neuroscience of self-compassion. He claims that three brain systems work together to help you handle adversity and survive in chaotic times. Your ‘mammalian care-giving system’ is one of these systems. When it’s outward-facing, it enables you to feel, and show, compassion for those around you. But it can also be inward-facing. In this case, your care-giving system promotes a sense of self-security and stability.

Self-care is often touted as the guaranteed cure for low confidence and the antidote to imposter syndrome.  But guess what? This isn’t true. Just like it’s foolish to take antibiotics for every little ache and pain, it’s silly  to apply generic self-care practices as a cure for low confidence. How I’m not saying self-care is a bad thing. However, some self-care practices are more likely to damage your confidence than build it. Four of these are very common

Habit 1: Using minimising language

Some words unconsciously minimise your message and destroy your credibility. But many people (especially women) use these words in a vain attempt to fit in. For example, imagine a conference speaker who starts her presentation with the words “This isn’t really my area of expertise”. She certainly doesn’t sound confident and I bet she doesn’t feel confident, either.

Habit 2: staying in your comfort zone

I get it. You’ve been told that looking after yourself means reducing stress and saying ‘no’ to overloading yourself. Unfortunately, if you have low confidence this is the worst advice you can take, because it stops you learning. Believe it or not, confidence increases as your  willingness to learn builds. So, start challenging your assumptions about what’s possible and move into the learning zone.

Habit 3: Critiquing yourself all the time

Okay. Critiquing your own performance can be a great way to build your motivation to do better.  But when done excessively, self-critique turns into self-criticism. It quickly erodes your self-confidence. Plus, it turns into a habit which can be challenging to break. Resist the temptation to look for what you ‘should’ be doing better. Instead, focus on putting your strengths and passions to good use as a leader. Work with a coach or mentor if you need help doing this.

Habit 4: Making contingency plans for everything

Yes, it does make sense to have backup plans for important parts of your life and work.  But having ‘just in case’ plans for everything is a clear sign that your need for control is …out of control. Remember that confidence doesn’t come from being in control. It is stronger when you believe in your own coping skills. Build those and suddenly confidence will be your default state.

Of course, self-care is important. However, it is important to make sure you’re practicing the right kind of self-care. Poor self-care habits can damage your confidence and stop you from building the skills you need to be successful.  It’s time to break these habits and become a confident leader. Are you ready? Let’s get started!

This article was created by Eleanor Shakiba

Eleanor is a leadership trainer and success coach. Her mission is inspiring talented people to become leaders who make a difference.  Since discovering her passion for training and development, Eleanor has trained more than 60,000 people. She delivers face-to-face workshops for corporates, online masterclasses for leaders and Positive Psychology retreats for trainers, HR practitioners and leaders. 

Ironically, I wrote this at 2 a.m. However, it is still an important point for you take on. If you believe successful managers and business owners are constantly busy, think again. Yes, many people feel they should work 24/7 and they must be constantly focused on success. There’s a name for this feeling: “imposter syndrome” and it is the biggest cause of overwork in managers and business owners today. High-impact leaders DO NOT MAKE OVERWORKING A HABIT. Instead, they use three core habits to stay focused on making a difference.

It’s time to get real. Being busy is NOT a sign you’re successful. In fact, it’s a sign you’re ineffective. High-impact leaders don’t have mile-long to do lists or fully booked diaries. Instead, they have strategic plans and  to- notch teams. You can’t have either of those things if you’re overworking. But how can you tell if you ARE overworking? Here are the top  4 signs I advise  my clients to watch out for.

The to-do list that never ends

This is a sure sign you’re working reactively. You see, effective leaders don’t ever use To Do Llists. They use plans. What’s the difference? To Do  lists are made up on the fly. Plans are well thought out and developed in advance.

Staying switched on 24/7

The second sign you’re overworking is struggling to wind down after work. This is really common problem for high-achieving people. However, it is not a badge of honour! If you’re constantly thinking about work. it’s a sign you’re overworking. You need to stop now. Go back to your hobbies, your family or your friends. Believe me, you can still succeed even when you are human! All it takes is confidence and assertiveness!

Feeling resentful and put-out

Yep. It is  less obvious, but it is still a sign you’re overworking. For example, it might seem like you’re the only person who is committed to doing a good job. If you’re feeling this way, you’re probably taking too much on and working excessive hours. Sound familiar?

Knowing you’re overworking

The fourth sign you’re overworked in  bleeding obvious: you know you’re overworked. Sadly, many talented managers and professionals e keep going despite this realisation. Eeek! I can tell you this a guaranteed way to burn yourself out.

So, how do you slow down and stop overworking? Learn to drive your own brain. Neuro Linguistic Programming (NLP is a great tool for doing this).  With NLP, you can manage your own thinking and emotional states. You can quit handling everything yourself and stop feeling like an imposter. So, if the 4 symptoms of overwork resonate for you, act now. Learn some NLP and focus on having an impact instead of being busy 24/7.

This article was created by Eleanor Shakiba

Eleanor is a leadership trainer and success coach. Her mission is inspiring talented people to become leaders who make a difference.  Since discovering her passion for training and development, Eleanor has trained more than 60,000 people. She delivers face-to-face workshops for corporates, online masterclasses for leaders and Positive Psychology retreats for trainers, HR practitioners and leaders. 

­­­­­­­­­­­­­You probably think having high standards is a sign you’re a dedicated professional. Sadly, it might be ruining your reputation. Sure, you’ve  been told that successful people have high standards. But here’s what you haven’t realised. Perfectionist thinking is just one sign of self-sabotage – and you’ll never shine professionally if you make it a habit.

What causes perfectionism?

Two thinking patterns cause you to get stuck in perfectionist mode. On one hand, you hold extremely HIGH expectations about the quality of work you should produce. On the other hand, you have unrealistically LOW expectations regarding the time you’ll need needed to complete tasks.  This creates a mindset that gradually destroys your confidence and distorts your self-concept.

When this happens, you get trapped in a cycle of starting early and leaving late. Why? Because you’re trying so hard to meet deadlines and deliver ‘above and beyond’. You tell yourself this won’t last forever, but that busy patch just drags on. This exhausts you and shuts down the executive functions of your brain. It becomes impossible to make decisions, trust your own judgement or solve problems effectively.

Here’s how to break free

You can break free of perfectionism by reprograming your beliefs. I recommend using Neuro Linguistic Programming tools to do this, because they work so quickly. I explain exactly how they work in my free e-book, Beat Imposter Syndrome.

Step 1:  understand your brain

Stop focusing on getting everything right and start focusing on being in a peak performance state. You can’t deliver great results if you’re worn out  all the time. Exhaustion is a sign  you’re pushing against your brain’s natural rest and activity cycles. So, learn to flow with them. Remember that your brain works in cycles of around 90 minutes. Each cycle starts with a period of fast brainwave activity (when you feel alert and focused). This is followed by a phase  of slower brainwaves (which cause you to daydream or feel tired). Capitalise on this by making the most of

Step 2: enhance your Uptime states

Uptime is when your energy is high. It’s the best time to do things like complex thinking, problem-solving and writing. You can use NLP tools to trigger Uptime states. For example, anchoring (one of NLP’s best-known tools) is a simple way to access energetic states on demand. It’s one of the ten inspiring tools I cover in the Beat Imposter Syndrome e-book, in addition to all my NLP courses.

Step 3: make the most of your Downtime phases (don’t fight them)

You might find this counterintuitive, because our culture emphasises the importance of being ‘switched on’ all the time. In fact, it’s during your Downtime that you have access to the intelligence of your unconscious mind. That intelligence can help you beat perfectionism, so don’t feel guilty or lazy because you’re not working hard all the time.

Instead, make the most of your relaxed, dreamy states using Ericksonian hypnosis – otherwise known as trance induction.  This age-old practice is an effective and rapid way to access your unconscious mind, so you can create inner change quickly

Most importantly, remember that YOU are in charge of what you think. To beat perfectionism,  challenge yourself to be excellent, but not perfect. Focus on creating a balanced mindset that recognises the importance of rest and downtime as well as hard work.

This article was created by Eleanor Shakiba

Eleanor is a leadership trainer and success coach. Her mission is inspiring talented people to become leaders who make a difference.  Since discovering her passion for training and development, Eleanor has trained more than 60,000 people. She delivers face-to-face workshops for corporates, online masterclasses for leaders and Positive Psychology retreats for trainers, HR practitioners and leaders.