Helping other people reach their goals, discover their full potential, and make positive changes is a powerful part of becoming a life guide. But you have to trust yourself first in order to do this well. Being confident is a key part of being a good coach. Without it, self-doubt can start to grow, which can hurt not only your mental health but also the work you do with your clients. Here are nine useful ways to trust yourself more and feel more confident as a life guide.

1. Understand What Makes Coaching Work

You need to trust the teaching process before you can trust yourself fully. As a coach, you don’t need to know all the answers. What you need to do is ask strong questions that help your clients find their answers. When you really understand the basics of good teaching, like active listening, understanding, and giving clients the freedom to explore, you won’t feel as much pressure to “perform.” Believe that the process will work, and each lesson will make you feel more stable and sure of yourself.

2. Relax And Be Yourself

When you’re a coach, it’s easy to feel like you need to be “perfect” in order to be taken seriously. In truth, clients connect with people who are real. When you chill out and let your real self show, flaws and all, you make a safe and welcoming place for your clients. You’ll feel more confident when you stop acting and accept yourself as you are.

3. Take An Inventory Of Your Strengths And Micro-wins

When you forget how good you are, self-doubt often starts to show up. Take a moment to write down your skills and the small, important wins you’ve had, like a breakthrough with a client, a good review, or even a time you handled a tough talk with poise. These “micro-wins” show that you’re good at what you’re doing. You can look at this list again and again to make sure you’re on the right track.

4. Coach, Coach, And Coach Some More

You can’t think your way to confidence; you have to do things to build it. It will make you feel better and more capable the more you teach. If you’re new to teaching, work on your skills with friends, coworkers, or other teachers. No matter how small the lesson is, it gives you a chance to get better and trust yourself more.

5. Stay Focused On Who You Serve And Why

When phony syndrome starts to show up, turn your attention to your clients and your goal. Why did you choose to become a coach? Who do you want to help? Giving to others instead of trying to prove yourself makes you less self-conscious and more confident.

6. Do Until You Make It

You may have heard the saying, “Fake it until you make it,” but that means acting, which isn’t what teaching is about. Do until you make it instead. Show up. Do something imperfectly. Keep teaching, learning, and getting better. Confidence doesn’t just appear; you have to work at it every day. You’ll become the confident coach you want to be the more you do it.

7. Get Curious And Ask Yourself Questions

Being your own best coach will help you trust yourself more. When you have questions or fears, don’t judge them. Instead, become interested. Think about it:

• What do I fear, and is it real?
• If a client felt this way, what would I tell them?
• What skills do I already have that will help me get through this?

You can get rid of fear and make room for confidence by treating your mind with the same curiosity and kindness you show your clients.

8. Use A Support System

Other teachers work with the athletes as well. Put yourself around friends, teachers, and groups that will help you. When you’re not sure what to do, a strong support system can give you hope, advice, and a different point of view. Sometimes, you forget what your skills are, but having people in your corner can help you remember them.

9. Manage Your Inner Critic

Even the most confident teachers learn how to deal with their inner critic. Don’t believe the mean voice in your head; see it for what it is: fear trying to keep you from failing. Say “thank you” for caring, and then pick a more positive thought to think about. Change “I’m not experienced enough” by “Every session I do helps me become a better coach.” Talking to yourself like you would talk to a client will boost your confidence.

Conclusion: Confidence Is Built, Not Born

Being bold or perfect isn’t necessary to trust yourself as a life guide. All you have to do is show up for every lesson and believe in your ability to make a difference. You’ll easily gain the confidence you need to inspire others if you understand how teaching works, accept who you are, and consistently take action.