6 Powerful Steps to Overcome Life and Business Insecurities

No matter how intelligent and capable you are, both, life and business can become challenging if you feel inadequate to cope with their demands. Sometimes others may view you as a competent person, but you actually feel bewildered by everyday situations. At other times you may also feel that your peers do not accept you, or that your dreams are so far out of reach.

Failing to cope with these types of insecurities can negatively impact your relationships and your business; opening the door to depression. Although dealing with insecurities in business appears difficult, you can better cope and overcome them using these six tips:

1. Practice self awareness.

   This involves understanding your insecurity. Ask yourself why you have feelings of insecurity in the first place. Determining where those feelings originate helps you discover two vital things: first, that your insecurities have a valid foundation and second, that these issues have a logical cause and can therefore be logically cured. Insecurities can have many different causes, and yours may be one of the most common.

   Were you raised in a chaotic environment that kept you constantly guessing? Perhaps you have spent a lot of time in a situation in which you felt overshadowed or outperformed by someone else. Maybe you are recently divorced or have experienced financial challenges in your business. You might suffer from a poor body image or awkward social skills. If you have just experienced a loss in your life or some other major change in circumstances, you are likely having trouble adjusting.

   Conduct a self-assessment to reflect on your insecurities and strengths. Identify situations that make you uncomfortable or make you feel unsure of yourself, such as group presentations or coworker conflicts. The goal is to identify those situations and tasks that allow you to shine within the confines of a small business, while taking stock of areas where further confidence-building will be necessary.

2. Set goals to build self-confidence.

   Focus on setting both achievable and challenging goals. Achievable goals may focus on expanding knowledge or skills surrounding your core competencies, while more challenging goals will bring you face-to-face with those situations that shine a light on your insecurities. Setting short-term achievable goals will help give you the motivation you need to start confronting your insecurities.

3. Connect with empowering peers.

   Participate in training or leadership activities to help reduce your anxiety and boost self-esteem. For instance, bonding with your co-founders or employees is a good way to build relationships and create a supportive workplace environment. Seek out a mentor to help you tackle your goals. In a small business, mentors can provide important insight into the necessary improvements you need to make to succeed with the company.