Mastering Confidence

(MoneyWatch) 

During these rough times, it's easy for your confidence — like so many other things — to spiral downward. You probably find yourself asking a slew of questions: Where did I go wrong? Should I have changed directions back in, say, 2007? What if I had been more assertive? Listened to others? What should I do now to improve my situation?

It's not always comforting to know that you're not alone, but it is the truth. You can be sure that your employees or subordinates, as well as your clients, are asking themselves the same sorts of questions, with one key difference: They're looking to you for reassurance. So whom do you turn to? That's where BNET's guide to mastering confidence comes in. We'll tell you what confidence is, how everyone from scholars to the Marines holds on to it, and how you might gain more of it. And we'll give you proven methods for putting yourself into the right mind-set for each and every workday.

• Confidence: A Vicious Cycle
• Keeping Your Cool — and Your Confidence
• Five Ways to Deal with Stress
• How Confident Are You? Take the Test