Confidence, Positivity and Depression

When I speak on self-confidence I do so from the perspective of someone who has worked on her own levels of confidence over the years (I was very shy at school). Likewise regarding positivity... having made a conscious decision to see the best in things and look for the silver lining, however hard that might be (this habit kicked in when my older sister died from leukaemia aged 24 and I was 23).

However, I don't have any first-hand experience of depression, yet I'm sometimes asked about its relationship to feeling confident and positive.

I don't see them as linked, or even part of a sliding scale. To me they are completely different. Confidence and positivity are aspects of our thinking, and can be changed by changing our thinking (at least that's my experience).

From what I know about depression it's not the opposite of feeling positive; it is an illness that descends without the sufferer being complicit or willing. Reading the articles in today's Times and Guardian concur and offer some good insights into the issue of mental health. Well worth a read to peel a little of the stigma away.

Awards and Words of Encouragement

Last weekend I attended the JCI UK national awards ceremony on board HMS President on the Thames. I was delighted to see my local chamber, JCI Cambridge, win 5 national awards and also surprised to walk away with one myself for my role in mentoring JCI Cambridge over the past year.

Here's me going up to receive my award. What I love about this photo is the picture of Simon Bucknall who is standing up in the background and the delight that's showing on his face. It's his smile of encouragement I appreciate, as well as his words of congratulations.

When did you last stand up and recognise someone for their efforts?
Have you acknowledged your own success recently?
What words of encouragement could you give?

It's not about winning an award, it's about recognition of effort, however that comes into being.

Too often in business it is the wrong behaviour that is picked up and corrected, the slip ups that are marked down on the performance appraisal and the errors that get noticed. While good behaviour, great performance and doing things right sometimes passes people by.

Start to look out for the good things you do (and that are done by others if you have line-management responsibilities). Acknowledge them. Give yourself (or others) credit for achievements and successes, however small.

And keep the words of encouragement going as everyone needs a confidence boost now and then.

Kate

ps I was subsequently interviewed for JCI UK's blog, here's the post: JCI UK blog

Workshop on Confidence at Borders in Cambridge

With all this talk about the credit crunch, depression and doom & gloom in
the media I decided to speak to Borders in Cambridge to see if we could join forces to counteract the messages. I'm delighted to say they agreed and I will be holding a workshop on Precision Thinking for Confident Outcomes on 25th March at 6.30pm at Borders in Cambridge.

It will also be a fundraising event in aid of Papworth Trust, charity #211234 with a suggested donation of £10.

More details on Aspire 2 Events.