Having a bad day? Maybe that prospect you’ve been working with for months decided to go with your competitor. Or you missed out on a great deal because you weren’t sure you could handle it. It’s easy to have your self-confidence shaken when things aren’t going your way. And yet some people can pick themselves up and start again. How do they do it? They know how to manage their self-confidence. You can too. 

Put these tips in your back pocket and pull them out the next time your self-confidence needs a boost.

Set and Track Goals

It’s hard to stay confident when you don’t recognize success when it happens. That’s why it’s important to define it in advance by setting goals. Use your business plan to map out what you want to accomplish. Maybe it’s a certain response rate on your emails, hiring another employee, or launching a new product or service. Take a look at this idea from the Small Business Administration on setting 10 percent goals.

Then measure your progress. It’ll tell you if you’re on the right track. But even if results are off, you’ll gain confidence knowing you have the power to tweak your course and get back on track.

Celebrate Success Along the Way

The award-winning novelist, David Storey, is credited with saying “self-confidence is the memory of success.” It’s important to imprint success into your brain by celebrating it. If your daily sales total takes an uptick, acknowledge it. Verbalize it to yourself or announce it to your staff. The more imprints you make, the greater your reserve of success will be. Draw on it when your self-confidence is low.

Regularly Refuel

Ultimately, self-confidence comes from within but you can bolster it with inspiration from others. Here’s where your networking comes in. A sympathetic ear can help you figure out the source of your self-doubt and map out a solution. Another source is discussion groups on sites like LinkedIn. They allow you to pose questions online and get ideas.

Need more? Check out this TED playlist on building self-confidence. These short videos can be just the boost you need. And they’re accessible anytime. Take a look at the one from social psychologist Adam Galinsky on speaking up for yourself.

Invest in Yourself

Business owners understand the need to invest in their business. Maybe it’s a new piece of equipment or productivity software. But what about investing in yourself? After all, the more you know, the more you (and your business) can grow.

Learning new skills gives you the confidence to try new things. It can also help you make better decisions. So take advantage of development opportunities in your community and online. Here’s a free resource from SCORE of local and online workshops on a variety of topics.

Star In A Success Movie

Mark Twain once said, “I’ve had a lot of worries in my life, most of which never happened.” It’s common to imagine the worst but you can do the same thing with positive outcomes. Olympic athletes use visual imagery to program their brain for success. They imagine themselves buzzing through the course and arriving first at the finish line. That imagined success gives them the confidence to make it happen in real life.

You can do the same thing in your business. Create your own screenplay about an upcoming project. Imagine all the steps you’ll take and how they will lead to a successful outcome. Watch this video and learn how to set the stage for your visualization. It may seem awkward at first but practice can help program you for success.

With the right tools, you can manage your self-confidence. Start with these techniques and give yourself (and your business) a boost.