You've received this newsletter because you subscribed to it using our double opt-in sign-up process. To unsubscribe, just click the link at the bottom of this email. Alternatively, if you're not already a subscriber, you can sign up here. Contents Confidence in Others Self-Confidence Unfair Criticism Brilliant Business Writing Getting Rapport Conferences A Final Note At Mind Tools... About Mind Tools Membership Corporate Services Tool Explorer Contact Us Mind Tools Newsletter 186 - April 12, 2011 Self-Confidence for All! When you're feeling self-confident, you feel not only happier but also more capable and effective. So how can you boost your self-confidence AND the self-confidence of those around you? This week's newsletter helps you answer this question. Start by reading our Editors' Choice article, which explains how to build self-confidence in other people. And then take our self-confidence quiz to see how you can improve your own self-confidence. We also take a look at how you can protect your self-confidence when dealing with unfair criticism. Plus, we have the latest from the Career Excellence Club, including a Coaching Clinic on how to build rapport with your organization's senior managers. Enjoy the newsletter! James Manktelow and Rachel Thompson MindTools.com - Essential skills for an excellent career! Featured Resources at Mind Tools Building Confidence in Other People Creating Self-Assured Teams Newsletter Readers Do your people lack self-confidence? Learn how you can boost their confidence, so that they're more effective and more productive. Newsletter Readers' Skill-Builder How Self-Confident Are You? Improving Self-Confidence by Building Self-Efficacy All Readers Take this interactive test to find out how self-confident you are, and find out how to develop your own self-confidence. All Readers' Skill-Builder Dealing with Unfair Criticism Responding Calmly and Rationally All Readers Learn how to maintain your self-esteem, and respond calmly and rationally to unwarranted criticism. All Readers' Skill-Builder   ... And from the Career Excellence Club Be a Brilliant Business Writer: Write Well, Write Fast, and Whip the Competition , by Jane Curry and Dianna Young Club Members This enjoyable book helps you write clearly, concisely, and persuasively. Find out more about it here. Premium Members' Book Insight Getting Rapport with Senior Managers Club Members Discover how coaching helped Tom build good relationships with his organization's management team. All Members' Coaching Clinic Representing Your Organization at a Conference Getting the Most from Conferences Club Members Find out how to best represent yourself and your organization at conferences and trade shows. All Members' Featured Favorite Editors' Choice Article Building Confidence in Other People Creating Self-Assured Teams Think about watching a sports match between two teams, where one team is more confident than the other. The members of the more confident team know that they have a good chance of winning. As a result, everyone on the team makes good decisions, and the players work together seamlessly. Meanwhile, the other team's confidence is shaky. Players doubt their abilities, they hesitate, and they don't commit fully to any particular course of action. Help others boost their confidence. © iStockphoto/laflor When this happens, it's likely that the more confident team will win. The same principles apply in the workplace - when you have people on your team who have low self-confidence, this can hold them back from reaching their full potential. This is why it's important that we do what we can to boost the confidence of those around us, especially if we're leading a team. Recognizing Low Self-Confidence People who lack self-confidence rarely thrive. They see more risks than opportunities, they don't perform particularly well in new situations, and they often have low self-esteem. What's more, they rarely trust their own judgment, and they may see any successes that they do achieve as resulting from luck, rather than from their own efforts. By contrast, people who have high self-confidence are more productive and more effective, and can raise the morale of the entire group. They're also more comfortable taking risks, which can have benefits for their own careers, as well as for their teams. Confidence can make or break people's ability to achieve their life goals. So how can you help boost the self-confidence of the people around you? The full text of this article is available to Mind Tools Club members. If you're a member, please click here. If you aren't a member, you can find out how to join Mind Tools from the following link: http://www.mindtools.com/rs/CXC A Final Note from James Confidence is key in working effectively and productively. So do everything that you can to help boost other people's confidence, as well as your own. You'll see huge improvements in people's performance! Keep an eye out for our next newsletter, when we'll look at 10 time management mistakes that you really need to avoid. See you then! James Manktelow email us Mind Tools Essential Skills for an Excellent Career! Privacy Policy: Mind Tools will treat your email address with complete respect and will not circulate it to any third party. If you are not already a subscriber to this newsletter and you would like to be one, you can sign up at http://www.mindtools.com/subscribe.htm If you have enjoyed this issue, please do email it on to your friends and co-workers. 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