High confidence is one of the greatest qualities a person can possess. It enables you attack life with a passion, going for your goals and trying new things. It means you aren’t put off by things going wrong; you are able to use mistakes and problems as learning experiences or simply detours along the route of your journey toward a goal.

A positive self-image does more than simply make you feel good about yourself; other people will notice your confidence and respect and admire you for it. Getting people to recognize your high confidence can be easy by avoiding several key behaviors that are generally associated with low confidence.

1. Avoid over explaining your actions

People who lack confidence tend to over explain their actions, even accidents, as if they are to blame for them and have to apologize. For example, if during a meeting you drop several folders, causing the papers to scatter, avoid trying to explain it away.

A confident person will simply laugh off their clumsiness and pick up the folders. A person with low confidence may blame dropping the folders on having too much coffee or not enough sleep. Really, it was just an accident that could happen to anyone.

2. Accept constructive criticism gracefully

Criticism is a normal part of everyone’s life and in many cases it is justified. Listen to the criticism and respond to it if it is valid. If it is not, then simply move on. This is how someone with high confidence would respond.

Conversely, someone with low confidence is likely to try and explain away their error or place the blame for the mistake elsewhere.

3. Know your weaknesses and accept them.

It is a simple fact of life that everyone has weaknesses. A person with low confidence will often over compensate for their weaknesses. Avoid doing these by taking an honest inventory of your weaknesses and accepting them. After all, no-one is perfect.

4. Be aware of your posture

If you have high confidence, you are unlikely to have defensive body language. Defensive body language, like folding your arms and crossing your legs, are mechanism common used by people with low confidence, so avoid it, especially in a confrontational situation.

5. Focus on goals, not perfection

Confident people do not waste their time trying to be perfect; instead they focus their attention on being successful in their goals. If a highly confident person receives a B on a test, they may aim for an A next time and will be satisfied with their B as something from which they can learn.

A person with low confidence is likely to come unglued with anything other than 100%. Do not aim for perfection.

It may seem silly to say this, but learning to act like a confident person will actually help you become a confident person. By practicing behaviors common to people with high confidence, you will train your subconscious mind to believe you are confident and capable, and you will become more confident and capable as a result.

You will soon find yourself being confident, not just acting confident. Avoid explaining your actions and learn to accept your weaknesses. You aren’t perfect and no-one expects you to be.

Learn to accept constructive criticism gracefully and throw the rest out. Practice open body language. Don’t be defensive in the way you hold yourself, it screams out low confidence. Finally, focus on goals without trying to be perfect. No-one can be perfect all of the time, so don’t try to be.

These simple tips will help you obtain high confidence in which you are as a person. You will be more successful as a result of it.