Bangalore: Management trainers are sought for "confidence coaching" now. Because too many people in the junior and middle level lack that one important quality for leadership: confidence in themselves.

"Lack of confidence is a result of low self-esteem, and surprisingly large number of otherwise intelligent and efficient corporate employees suffer from it," says management consultant K. Panduranga.

It is a question of being able to respect and like oneself so that you can project a more positive image to the world outside. "Many believe something like power dressing or an affected accent can transform their image but it doesn't happen that easily," he says.

In his coaching sessions, he asked participants to start identifying their plus points instead of what they think are negative things. "Make a list of what you are good at... it can be language skills or being empathetic to others or just being cheerful. These are foundations on which better self-esteem can be built," he says.

The next step is to look back at one's childhood and school days and recall where things may have gone wrong.

Did a parent make unfair comparisons or a teacher act harshly because you could not spell words correctly. Then consider how you have overcome those failings and perhaps become better at many things than your more outgoing sister and how you now rarely use the "spell check" on your word processor.

"I keep asking people to create a positive self-image by listing all that is good about themselves. Many are surprised by how long that list is," says psychotherapist Sunanda Murthy.

Having reached that stage she asked people to consider in which areas they can improve their skills and work on them with a positive attitude.

"Today's corporate world demands people with good communication skills; those who can reach out confidently to customers, colleagues and business partners. Those who cannot talk with ease end up with backend jobs and fewer opportunities to climb up the career ladder. Self-confidence can be increased gradually till you reach your optimum level of confidence in being able to deal with other people and your own career," says Dr. Sunanda Murthy.

Ultimately, the image the world outside sees is the image you have of yourself.

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