Confidence is attractive but do you need to fake it if you feel you lack it?  People who exude genuine confidence appeal to and inspire others.  Confidence gives these people an advantage in work and in personal relationships because their confidence is contagious.  When someone is confident in their own abilities, others respond by putting confidence in them, too.  But there’s a fine line between genuine confidence and pseudo or faking confidence.

When someone crosses that line, their behavior becomes unattractive and it can be perceived as arrogance.  Rather than appealing to others, the pseudo-confident person repels others.  We are very sensitive creatures and we can spot when someone isn’t being authentic. 

Sadly, those who are merely acting confident (rather than being confident) seldom recognise the difference.  Others see it in them before they see it in themselves. People with pseudo-confidence generally dismiss others’ reactions to them, saying things like “I don’t care what they think” or “They’re just jealous.”  The bravado may bolster their spirits, but it also perpetuates the problem and distances others from them even more.

So what is the difference between authetic self confidence and faking it?

Pseudo-confidence is actually encouraged in our society.  The “fake it ‘til you make it” message reigns supreme.  Plenty of people fake it and never really make it because they think the faking it is good enough.  So long as this prescription is doled out so loosely, many people will get stuck in this rut.  Real confidence doesn’t require faking it.  Those who are genuinely confident don’t need to fake it.

So what does authetic self confidence actually look like? I can think of 6 clear differences between real and pseudo-confidence.

1. Confidence Doesn't Mean That You HAVE to Know Everything

Being confident in yourself doesn’t mean that you know everything.  It means that you believe in yourself enough to ask questions and to ask for help.  It means that you believe in your own abilities to learn and grow, so when you don’t know something you are open to admitting that AND willing to try and try again until you learn.

Pseudo-confidence is just the opposite – not asking for help, not acknowledging skills or knowledge gaps, and not being open, willing to learn and maintaining a beginners mind set.

2. You Don't Have To Be Perfect

Being genuinely confident means you don’t have to be perfect.  Confident people make mistakes, accept responsibility for those mistakes, correct those mistakes, learn from them, and move on.

Those who lack true confidence blame others instead of accepting responsibility. They hide their mistakes (and often magnify them in the process).  They don’t learn which, of course, means that they are more likely to repeat the same mistakes.

3. Be Humble, Show Humility 

Those who are genuinely confident do not put on airs.  They are humble and see no need to call attention to themselves.  They rely on substance rather than style.  By contrast, those with pseudo-confidence often have a “look at me” way of presenting themselves.  They over-act the part of confidence so that they look “cocky” or arrogant.  They deflect questions and oppose differing ideas, usually by attacking those who challenge them.  This is because the substance isn’t really there and the style won’t hold up to any scrutiny.  Absolutle no need to brag aobut ahcievment mand all the times you were better than your peers.

4. Show Up Consistently

Real confidence is unflappable and consistent.  It is not tied to popular opinion or circumstances.  Instead, it is steady and ever-present.  A person who is confident in himself or herself is not reliant on what others think.  Instead, they are content to form their own opinions and to act of their own accord.  This type of confidence comes from knowing who they are and what they stand for, anchored in their own values and fully formed beliefs.  Those who are merely acting confident lack the foundation to be consistent and independent.  Because their confidence isn’t rooted in values and beliefs, the pseudo-confident look outward for validation and direction.  That makes their confidence situational and puts them on shaky ground.

5. Be Kinder Towards Others and Celebrate Their Successes

Those who are genuinely confident in themselves are giving of themselves. They see no need to be protective and stingy with their time, knowledge, resources, ideas, or support. They believe there is plenty to go around, and they welcome the opportunity to help others. They are also magnanimous in spirit, seeing the best in others, overlooking pettiness, forgiving unintended slights, and working earnestly to resolve conflicts. Those who pretend to be confident build walls instead.

They isolate themselves and are not forthcoming with information.  They don’t like to share what they know and are not generous with their time.  They protect their turf and see others’ involvement or interest as an encroachment.  Because they are so defensive, they make “mountains out of molehills” and escalate conflicts. They interpret innocuous comments as insults and think those who ask questions are questioning them as an attack.

At the root of all these behaviors is the difference between genuine confidence and a lack of confidence . Masking a lack of confidence doesn’t fool anyone for very long.  It soon becomes clear that the pseudo-confident are trying to hide something.  Usually, what they are trying to hide is the lack of confidence.  Just admitting the confidence gap and being confident enough to ask for help resolves this perception and puts people on the right track toward developing a deeper level of confidence.  For some, though, that admission never comes.  As a result, they miss out on developing and displaying the genuine confidence that would lead to stronger connections with others.

Confidence is attractive. People who exude genuine confidence appeal to and inspire others.  Confidence gives these people an advantage in work and in personal relationships because their confidence is contagious.  When someone is confident in their own abilities, others respond by putting confidence in them, too. But there’s a fine line between genuine confidence and pseudo-confidence.  When someone crosses that line, their behavior becomes unattractive. Rather than appealing to others, the pseudo-confident person repels others.  This person comes across as untrustworthy and phony.

Sadly, those who are merely acting confident (rather than being confident) seldom recognize the difference.  Others see it in them before they see it in themselves. People with pseudo-confidence generally dismiss others’ reactions to them, saying things like “I don’t care what they think” or “They’re just jealous.”  The bravado may bolster their spirits, but it also perpetuates the problem and distances others from them even more. After all, who wants to be minimised by someone who thinks of them in that manner?

6. Be willing to take on New Challenges

While you might be tempted to simply avoid the situations that leave you feeling less confident, doing so can actually increase your anxiety and lessen your faith in your abilities.  Research has found that practicing the things you fear can help reduce anxiety and improve self-confidence.

This doesn’t mean that you should throw yourself into a situation that you’re not ready for. Taking on too much and failing might actually make you feel less capable in the long run.

Instead, try gradually practicing things you find intimidating—whether it’s giving a speech or networking at a professional event. This can help you build confidence in your ability to succeed in those circumstances.

As you take more steps toward gaining experience and expertise in those areas, you can build a solid foundation that will fuel your confidence without risking setb

“The only way to be truly confident is to simply become comfortable with what you lack.”

– Mark Manson

Real self confidence isn’t about flaunting your strengths but accepting all your flaws wit grace and humility.  You will never be completely perfect however we can all work on being a better version of ourselves on a daily basis

Real confidence isn’t about flaunting your strengths but accepting your flaws with grace and humour.  You’ll never be perfect – nobody is. If you don’t accept your flaws, the self-sabotaging voice in the back of your head will always remind you of your perceived inadequacies, like being too short, too poor, or too dorky.  But once you accept these as parts of yourself, you regain power over your mind.

 

You also try to cover your insecurities because today’s society and social media give you the impression you have to have it all.

Men need to be good-looking, strong, successful in business, and never miss their kid’s soccer games. Women should look flawless, be independent, climb the career ladder, and push out a baby or two between meetings.

Whether you’re insecure about your height, income, looks, or because your laugh sounds like Goofy on LSD, there’s only one way to deal with it: Acceptance.

You’re worthy as a human being, no matter what you have or lack.

I know it’s a tough pill to swallow, but you can make it go down the hatch a little easier.  No need to fake self confidence, just accept yourself as you are, have the humour to laugh when you cock up and go out and try something new.