KIeran t. bird

TOP TIPS FOR CHALLENGING TIMES

Developing self-confidence in your children

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1. Demonstrate unconditional love.

2. Praise them for effort as well as results. Specific, immediate and ideally public.

3. Teach them to set and achieve realistic goals.

4. Let them try challenging new experiences.

5. Encourage them to find and follow their passion(s).

6. Encourage them to play sport.

7. Get them into martial arts.

8. Create an ‘achievement wall’ record.

Helping your kids start school feeling more confident

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1. Talk about the first day in positive terms.

2. Describe what will happen on the first day.

3. Introduce your child to other kids in the class.

4. Visit the school in advance. Play with your child in the playground.

5. Read your child books about starting school such as ‘The Berenstain Bears Go to School’.

Selling with Confidence

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1. Don’t sell anything you don’t believe in.

2. Know your product   

3. Practice, practice, practice your sales pitch.

4. Prepare your questions well in advance.

5. Think of selling as a game.

6. When selling over the phone, stand up.

7. Know your response to every possible objection  

8. Deepen your voice and slow your speech. You’ll sound more confident.

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Negotiating with Confidence

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1. Plan and prepare.  

2. Think of every negotiation as a game.

3. ABN. Always be negotiating. When you make a habit of negotiating, it becomes second nature.

4. Be aware of the personality types you’ll be negotiating with. It will help you prepare mentally and emotionally.

5. Remember what Roger Dawson said, ‘You will never make money faster than when you are negotiating’. It helps with emotional control.

6. Don’t go it alone. If you are going to negotiate with more than one person, don’t be outnumbered.

7. Your place, not theirs. You’ll feel more comfortable negotiating in a familiar environment.

Presenting with confidence and charisma

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1. Prepare well. Know your audience.

2. Practice, practice, practice. And practice.  Join Toastmasters.

3. Use only brief notes.

4. Use the Squeeze.

5. Be prepared for any questions.

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Leaving your day job with confidence

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1. Set clear goals and stick with them.

2. Create a rough five-year plan, and a detailed first year plan.

3. Create a record of your achievements. Look at it whenever self-doubt rears its ugly head.

4. Make daily positive affirmations.

5. Form a support group of other self-employed people. Meet regularly.

6. Meditate regularly.

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Re-entering the workforce with confidence  

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1. Set clear goals to work on every day. And complete them. The self-discipline required alone will boost your confidence.

2. Create your dream employer list.

3. Work on your biggest weakness.

4. Make daily positive affirmations. First and last thing in the day.

5. Read or listen to positive, motivational material daily.

6. Feel the fear, do it anyway, and reward yourself for all achievements.

7. Prepare for interviews by writing out answers to the two main types of questions using the CAR (Context, action, result )/ STAR formula. (Situation, tactics, action, result)

8. Visualise the interview going well.

9. Exercise regularly.

10. Feel good about the way you look. You’ll not only feel more confident, you’ll be treated with respect by others.

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Job hunt with confidence

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1. Create your dream employer list.

2. Set clear goals to work on every day.

3. Make daily positive affirmations. First and last thing in the day.

4. Read or listen to positive, motivational material daily.

5. Use informational interviewing.

6. Feel the fear, do it anyway, and reward yourself for all achievements.

7. Prepare for interviews by writing out answers to the two main types of questions using the CAR/STAR formula.

8. Visualise the interview going well.

9. Exercise regularly.

10. Feel good about the way you look. You’ll not only feel more confident, you’ll be treated with respect by others.

Dating again…with confidence

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1. Make daily positive affirmations.

2. Try meditating.

3. Remember dating is a numbers game, so not every date has to be perfect.

4. Do what it takes to feel good about the way you look.

5. Maintain confident body language.

6. If you’re struggling with your online profile, enlist the help of a good friend.

7. If you meet someone you find attractive, just ask them out for a coffee. The more you do this, the less nervous you will be. And remember, rejection won’t hurt you. Not really.

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