We all probably know confident women or can spot them when they walk (gracefully and boldly) into a room. They have a certain aura about them—they seem comfortable in their own skin and nothing seems to faze them. But, what exactly are the qualities that add up to being a confident woman? It varies from person to person, of course, but here are five traits that truly confident women seem to have in common. Practice cultivating these habits, and soon you will be the confident woman in the room that other people aspire to be like!
1. They Don’t Care What Other People Think
Have you heard of the “Tiny Buddha” books? It is a series of upbeat self-help books, including titles like “Tiny Buddha’s Guide to Loving Yourself,” and the brand has a great blog, too. Need a quick dose of self-esteem? Just go to their blog. A trait that confident women tend to share is not caring about what other people think—they are their own person, for better or worse. Here’s an inspiring excerpt from the Tiny Buddha blog. Remember this next time you feel your self-confidence waning.
By confronting your fears you help others confront theirs. More than anything, when you stop caring what others think and set out to achieve your goals and dreams, you give others the power to do the same. Someone is always watching and wishing they had your courage. By stepping up to your own fears, you really do help others face theirs. What you think they think isn’t the reality.
2. They Are Prepared
We probably all grew up hearing “practice makes perfect,” and we follow the age-old wisdom in certain facets of our lives. But in other facets? Perhaps not as much. “The best way to build confidence in a given area is to invest energy in it and work hard at it,” Tony Schwartz, the president and CEO of The Energy Project and the author of “Be Excellent at Anything: The Four Keys to Transforming the Way We Work and Live,” said in an article in the Harvard Business Review. “Practice can be very useful, and is highly recommended because in addition to building confidence, it also tends to improve quality.”
The takeaway? If you’re frazzled because you’re always taking on tasks you’re unprepared for, it will be hard to appear confident. Put in the time to master the things that matter to you, and your confidence will naturally soar.
3. They Are Organized
Modern women juggle a LOT. But, why do some women show up at work with perfect hair, looking well-rested and ready to tackle any project like a boss, while others are perpetually late, sleep-deprived and seem unsure of where to focus their energy? Organization! The first woman in the example above probably takes time to tidy her house on the weekends, makes a point to get to bed on time, and has her morning routine down to a science—she may make it look easy, but it actually takes a lot of work behind the scenes. When your life is organized, you’re naturally going to feel calmer and more confident. Check out these organization tips from the Guidance Girl that will give your confidence a major boost.
4. They Own Their Mistakes And Learn From Them
We all make mistakes—but confident women know how to admit it when they make a mistake. We probably all know people who try to blame others or make excuses when something goes wrong. But, there’s actually much more power in being accountable for our actions. Seven to Success, an inspirational online platform for women, shares some good information about owning up to our mistakes:
Accepting responsibility makes learning possible. Blaming others for your mistakes will neither get you anywhere nor do you any good… Take 100 percent responsibility, accept the consequences and be part of the solution to the problem.
5. They Know And Value The Importance Of Self Care
You’ve probably heard variations of the phrase that if you don’t take care of you and put yourself first, no one else will. “Without a system to care for our minds, bodies and spirits we have little left to give to others,” life coach Alexis Meads wrote in The Huffington Post. “So know what you need to keep you in the zone. Then, make it non-negotiable.”
Though Meads is absolutely right, prioritizing self care takes discipline. Make sure to set aside time to meditate, do yoga, drink a calming cup of tea or whatever makes you feel centered. When you take care of yourself, you’ll naturally come across as more confident to others. After all, it’s hard to appear self-assured when you’re always running on empty.
Written by Natalia Lusinski
