In law, it can seem as though confidence is a professional requirement. There is an expectation that you will have the answers. It can also seem like everyone around you feels confident, and you are the odd one out. The feeling is not a unique one. You are not alone. Many lawyers lack confidence, this is particularly true for junior lawyers. When so much is new in the early years of practice and the learning curve is steep, it is natural to experience self-doubt and worry.
To help you with accessing confidence when you need it (or courage), here are five practical strategies and a summary of what each entails:
- Learn your strengths – Remember the strengths that are going to support your effort as well as when and why they went well.
- Prepare and Practice – Putting in the extra time and effort to prepare well and practice can boost your performance.
- Visualize – Imagining a specific situation or task can hone your performance. Many professional athletes use this technique!
- Shift Focus from inward to outward – Shift inward concerns like self-doubt outwards towards objectives. Giving attention to the outcome can increase your confidence.
- Shift Mindset – When you are taking on a challenge or learning something hard, adopt a growth or success mindset. The stress response you feel will actually enhance your performance and learning.
For a deeper dive into these strategies and how to apply them read the full article here.
And for another perspective on this read Lawyer Coach Lora McInturf’s article on Jumpstarting Confidence here.
