People can be hesitant because of fear — fear of being wrong, looking silly, or not being taken seriously. And honestly, who hasn’t been there?

It’s so important to create an environment where it’s OK to make mistakes and learn from them without feeling judged.

Encourage Open Conversations: Let people know their thoughts matter. When everyone’s ideas are welcomed (even the half-baked ones), it becomes easier to share.

Embrace the Learning Curve: Mistakes are part of growth. When people see that learning from missteps is the norm, they understand it’s not a cause for embarrassment. They’re more likely to take risks.

Drop the Blame Game: Instead of focusing on who got it wrong, focus on how to make things better next time. That way, trying something new doesn’t feel so daunting.

Celebrate Small Wins: A little encouragement goes a long way. A simple “that was a great idea” can work wonders in building someone’s confidence.

Find a Mentor or Guide: Having someone to show the ropes makes all the difference. A little guidance can go a long way in boosting confidence.

Practice Makes Progress: Rehearsing for a presentation or testing a new skill in a low-pressure setting helps build familiarity — and confidence.

Set Small, Achievable Goals: Confidence grows step by step. Tackle bite-size tests before diving into the deep end.

Encourage Learning at Every Stage: No one becomes an expert right away. The more we normalize learning as a lifelong process, the less intimidating it feels.

Confidence doesn’t always look like having the loudest voice in the room or being the first one to take charge. In reality, it comes in all shapes and sizes, and sometimes it’s more about quiet self-assurance than bold declarations.

Acknowledge Different Strengths: Some people shine in one-on-one conversations rather than group settings. Others might lead through careful planning instead of being the first to speak up. There’s room for all kinds of confidence.

Create Low-Pressure Ways To Participate: Not everyone is comfortable jumping into a fast-paced discussion. Giving people alternative ways to share, like writing down ideas or small group chats, helps more voices be heard.

Play to Individual Strengths: Some people thrive on big-picture thinking, while others are detail-oriented. Recognizing different strengths helps people contribute in ways that feel natural to them.

Encourage Everyone To Own Their Style: There’s no single “right” way to be confident. The more people embrace their unique strengths, the more self-assured they’ll feel.

Be Specific & Encouraging: Instead of saying, “Nice job,” point out exactly what worked well. It helps people see what they’re doing right and builds their self-trust.

Frame Feedback as Growth, Not Criticism: Instead of “You need to work on speaking up more,” try “You had some great ideas — let’s find ways to make sure they’re heard.” The difference in tone makes all the difference in confidence.

Check In Regularly: A one-time pep talk is great, but real confidence grows with consistent encouragement and guidance.

Celebrate Progress: Acknowledging both small steps and big leaps helps people feel seen and stay motivated to keep progressing.

Jack has experience in various disciplines: private investigation, journalism, construction superintendent & project estimator, facilities management director for H-E-B Food-Drugs (in Texas & Mexico), Six Sigma black belt, Neurolinguistics practitioner, handwriting analysis, President/Founder of Professional Retail Store Maintenance Association (Now CONNEX) and church Deacon. He has given speeches or taught seminars in such cities as New York, Washington DC, Atlantic City, Orlando, Nashville, Chicago, New Orleans, Memphis, Houston, Dallas, San Antonio, Austin, Phoenix, Tucson, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco and Seattle.

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