What if confidence isn’t something you’re born with, but something you can actually train? In this episode, I’m joined by performance psychologist Dr Tom Bates, who has worked with Premier League footballers, Team GB athletes and Olympians, to find out what really creates lasting self-belief.

We talk about handling setbacks, performing under pressure, changing the way you speak to yourself and why three simple breaths can completely shift your state.

Tom also shares why confidence is built through doing the difficult stuff, not avoiding it, plus some brilliant advice for parents trying to raise confident young people in a very noisy world.

Highlights:

(02:23) - Why confidence is a conscious choice, not something you either have or don’t

(05:00) - The uncomfortable truth about setbacks and why we actually need them to build confidence

(10:08) - Stop measuring yourself purely by the result and start noticing the small wins

(14:12) - Pressure isn’t always the problem, it’s how we interpret what our body is telling us

(19:45) - Try this simple three-breath exercise to feel calmer, stronger and more focused

(36:50) - How an Olympic swimmer turned an overwhelming environment into something she could embrace

Connect with Tom:

https://www.instagram.com/tombatescoaching/?hl=en

Connect with Sian:

LinkedIn

Instagram

YouTube