Views of the art of public speaking. Why do I have a fear of public speaking?

How to improve your confidence

In our open step about understanding self-confidence, Helen Kempster from Goldsmiths University discusses how self-confidence is made up of two elements: self-efficacy and locus of control. This comes from psychological research done by Judge, Locke and Durham in 1997, and is referred to as ‘Core Self Evaluation’.

1. Develop self-efficacy

The first part, self-efficacy, is about the belief you have in your ability to succeed in different situations. Three factors affect your self-efficacy, and these are direct experience, observed experience and social persuasion.

Direct experience is about being successful or unsuccessful when you try something new, observed experience is about watching a role model succeed or fail in something, and social persuasion refers to praise or criticisms from other people. 

All of these things can affect your self-efficacy, and therefore your self-confidence. So, if you want to be more confident, you should take these things into account. You should be open to trying new activities and taking on responsibilities, you should find positive role models (in friends and family, or online), and you should ask for feedback and constructive criticisms from others.