Define yourself by your own assessment of your worth and work—don’t allow others to define it for you.Admit when you don’t know something, so you can learn and grow. You can’t truly take a learner’s approach to the world until you are willing to admit where you lack knowledge and fill in the gaps.

Ask Questions and Define Your Terms

What makes certain women <a href="https://parade.com/989608/marynliles/confidence-quotes/">appear confident </a>and in control? There are habits that confident women adopt.Confidence comes from knowing your area of expertise so thoroughly that you speak about it with complete certainty and unwavering knowledge. <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6354626/">Research shows </a>that planning and preparing for the unknown is an important factor in developing self-<a href="https://parade.com/989608/marynliles/confidence-quotes/">confidence </a>.

Traits that help women develop confidence 

Confident women raise daughters who make their own decisions, make their own money and make their own mistakes, says Scully. Know the habits and signs of confident girls, and help instill them in your daughters from birth—and <a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/family/archive/2018/09/puberty-girls-confidence/563804/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">particularly after puberty </a>.Define yourself by your own assessment of your worth and work—don’t allow others to define it for you.

20. Instill Habits of Confident Women in your Daughters

<a href="https://parade.com/1036167/marijkevroomendurning/what-is-mindfulness/">Mindfulness </a>is an activity in which you “purposely live in the moment and experience that moment with all your senses.” When you’re present and in the moment, you will naturally exude confidence.

Be aware of Your Surroundings, Cultivate Mindfulness 

Being passionate about a subject will increase your confidence. You can’t be passionate and weak—the two don’t go together.Just <a href="https://parade.com/503725/lindsaylowe/happiness-quotes/">being happy </a>and enjoying your life builds self-esteem and self-worth.It’s very empowering and exciting to try out the unknown. Once you’ve done so many things, you will feel more confident and can discuss them from experience.

Be Passionate

Even when you’re feeling a little wobbly, use your body language to convey the opposite—stand up straight, hold your head high, ground yourself and just look the part.

Hold Your Head High

Confident women don’t care about labels or logos, but create their own style and aesthetic, says Eileen Scully , founder of <a href="http://therisingtides.com/">The Rising Tides </a> and author of <a href="http://inthecompanyofmenbook.com/">In the Company of Men </a>. Scully focuses on advancing women in the workplace through her work and as an international keynote speaker.

You Do You

Our clothes can actually increase our confidence when we feel good in them. Think about how you feel when you go to a job interview in a nice suit. Dress for the job you want. When you feel and <a href="https://parade.com/434207/janenemascarella/can-your-beauty-routine-boost-your-love-life-a-new-study-says-yes/">look good </a>, you are more confident. The <a href="https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/adult-health/in-depth/self-esteem/art-20045374">Mayo Clinic recommends </a>harnessing the power of your thoughts and actions to raise your self-esteem—<a href="https://parade.com/1039023/allisonscerbomusante/what-is-self-care/">practicing regular self-care </a>and <a href="https://parade.com/1038960/kimberlyzapata/mental-health-awareness-month/">safeguarding your mental health </a>are two important steps in building and maintaining self-confidence, as are <a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12529-012-9272-z">getting enough sleep </a>and <a href="https://www.dovepress.com/physical-activity-and-self-esteem-testing-direct-and-indirect-relation-peer-reviewed-fulltext-article-NDT">exercise </a>.

Dress for Success

Surrounding yourself with <a href="https://parade.com/1221936/judykoutsky/positive-attitude/">positive people </a>can boost your self-esteem, and in turn your self-confidence. You will feel <a href="https://parade.com/967926/leighweingus/women-empowerment-quotes/">empowered </a>around like-minded people.

Spend Time with Other Confident Women

Put yourself in charge. You should take charge and not let other people make your decisions for you in both your professional and personal lives.Taking risks is part of being confident. <a href="https://parade.com/667380/lindsaylowe/adeles-most-inspiring-quotes-on-confidence-and-body-positivity/">As Adele says </a>, “Be brave and fearless to know that even if you do make a wrong decision, you’re making it for good reason.” Facing your fears is a <a href="https://bmcpsychology.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s40359-015-0083-2">research-backed way </a>to boost your self-confidence.

Put Yourself in Charge and Take Risks

Confident women are always lifting up other women. Helping others achieve their dream shows you’re empowered.Confident women raise daughters who make their own decisions, make their own money and make their own mistakes. Know the habits and signs of confident girls, and help instill them in your daughters from birth—and <a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/family/archive/2018/09/puberty-girls-confidence/563804/">particularly after puberty </a>.

Lift Up Other Women

Confident women can walk into any room alone and walk out with several new acquaintances.Just as you should surround yourself with other confident women and positive people, Scully notes that confident women are not brought down by others. Confident women know when to walk away from people who bring them down, without apologizing.

Choose Your Friends Wisely but Don’t Be Afraid of Alone

Saying no can sometimes be even harder than saying yes. But the ability to <a href="https://parade.com/1223959/jamie-feldman/how-to-set-boundaries/">create boundaries </a>will make you feel proud, especially if you’re good at holding the line.

Say No

In his book <a href="https://parade.com/product/1591847001/US/paradedigital-20/">Springboard: Launching Your Personal Search for Success </a>, G. Richard Shell notes that Olympic athletes train in a way that accumulates small wins and slowly builds confidence in their abilities. Smart women can similarly use this technique to boost confidence over time by setting small but achievable goals—then build on those successes.

Start with Small, Achievable Goals

What is it about certain women that makes them appear confident and in control? These are the secrets and habits that confidant woman adopt.