How to Build Unshakable Confidence as an Introvert: Step-by-Step Guide Revealed!
Most introverts view confidence as the ability to speak in public or have multiple associations with ease. However, being confident goes beyond all these.
It’s natural for introverts to doubt or underestimate their abilities compared to others. But it’s necessary to understand that introversion isn’t synonymous with a lack of self-confidence.
You can be quiet and confident at the same time.
And that’s why we called on the guest expert, Michaela Chung, founder of Introvert Spring, to help out.
Michaela is an introvert author, coach, and entrepreneur. Most importantly, she’s an expert on introversion. She knows what it feels like to not know what to say, and has published several resources online to help introverts cope in a world that favors extroverts.
Michaela has also been featured on Forbes, Chicago Tribune, CBC News, Huffspot, and many others. So we’re delighted to have her here at Diary Of An Introvert.
What inspired us to collaborate with Michaela is her profound experience and transformative coaching programs. In particular, Michaela’s Build Unstoppable Confidence Course has empowered hundreds of introverts to live their best life. After working with introverts for more than nine years, and spending immensely on self-development training, we are confident that Michaela has a lot to offer.
We asked Michaela a series of enlightening questions that will give you insight on how to build confidence as an introvert. Keep reading to find out more.
Michaela wasn’t always confident…
I used to be the kind of quiet introvert who avoided conflict at all costs. Even if someone crossed a boundary, I would stay quiet.
A few years ago at a family gathering a relative started making fun of my choice to be vegan. Instead of letting him insult me all night, I was able to calmly, and confidently express my boundaries.
He never spoke to me that way again. Over the years, having confidence has helped me to be more assertive and express my needs in countless other situations.
The key misconceptions people have about introverts and confidence (according to Michaela)
People think that introversion and shyness are the same thing. They believe that all introverts are destined to be timid wallflowers who are too afraid to speak up.
The truth is that introverts absolutely can (and do!) cultivate the confidence to speak up, be assertive, communicate effectively, and make friends.
I do standup comedy and used to be a competitive salsa dancer. People often say "You can't be an introvert if you perform on stage." Not true! Introverts can be great public speakers, actors, musicians, and professional dancers.
If it's important enough to you and you have the right tools, you can cultivate the courage to take center stage.
One Actionable Tip that Introverts Can Implement immediately to Boost their Confidence
Shift your state.
When I work with my introvert confidence coaching clients, this is one of the first things I share with them...
The secret is to shift your physiological and mental state before you socialize so that you FEEL more self-assured. Allow me to explain with a relatable scenario.
Let's say you just got off work and you're feeling tired, stressed, and low energy. Obviously, this is not the most confident state to be in.
But what if you put on your favorite upbeat song and dance your heart out for a few minutes? Or you did some power poses and affirmations in the mirror. How do you think you'd feel then?
Probably a lot more energized, happy, and—you guessed it—confident. Other things you can do to shift your state include a walk outside, jumping jacks, a bath, or a cold shower.
How I Navigate Social Situations as an Introvert while Maintaining a Strong Sense of Self-Confidence
I remember my 3 Steps to Connect and focus on those:
Intention: Set an outward-focused intention that you'll remind yourself of any time you start feeling self-conscious. For example, I love the intention of ‘making everyone I interact with feel 100% accepted’.
Commit: Commit to the conversation from the moment you approach someone. Do this with body language and facial expressions that show that you're engaged.
Reactions: This step is great if you tend to go blank in conversation. Instead of being witty and overly outgoing, focus on how you react to what the other person is saying. Reflect back their emotions in your facial expressions and use short phrases to show that you're listening (that's awesome, amazing, nice!).
This inspired me to focus on building confidence for introverts…
I’m an introvert who spent years feeling like I was fatally flawed and unlovable because of my quietness and innate need to be alone.
Without the right tools to build confidence as an introvert, I struggled to open up and connect. After spending tens of thousands on self-development training and painful trial and error, I developed an introvert-specific system for building confidence. Now it's my mission to share my work with as many introverts as possible.
Key Takeaways
Embrace Your Introversion: The more you understand that your personality type is a source of strength rather than a limitation, the more you can build confidence.
Shift Your State: Before socializing, engage in activities that shift your physiological and mental state, such as dancing, power poses, or affirmations. This boosts confidence.
Set Outward-Focused Intentions: Before you approach social situations, let your intentions be focused on making others feel accepted and valued. This will guide you into confident interactions.
Commit to Conversations: Let your body language and facial expressions show that you’re engaged in the conversation from the moment you approach someone. This reinforces your commitment to the interaction.
React Mindfully: Instead of focusing on being overly outgoing, react authentically to what others are saying. Use facial expressions and short phrases to show that you’re actively listening and connecting.
Explore Introvert-Specific Confidence Resources:
I've created an introvert-specific framework for building confidence, even if you're quiet and introverted like me.
This is specifically for introverts who are looking for a combination of inner + outer tools for rock solid confidence.
It's perfect for you if you've been struggling with low self-esteem for YEARS and you want this to be the year you finally have a confidence breakthrough.
It's also for you if you want to...
Set healthy boundaries without feeling guilty.
Gain respect and recognition at work.
Build a confident mindset to speak up and be heard.
Be more naturally magnetic without becoming an extrovert.
If so, learn more and become the most confident version of YOU with my Build Unstoppable Confidence Today program.
Conclusion
We hope this article was insightful and informative. Drop your comments below sharing one thing that stuck out the most for you. You can also get more of Michaela Chung at Introvert Spring.
