I recently wrote about the benefits of being more positive. But, how do we go about actually being positive? “Isn’t that something we are just born with?”, you might be thinking.

I recently asked a group of CEOs about the value of positive thinking and how they go about cultivating optimism in themselves and their teams. Our conversation highlighted the universal benefit of being positive, so I wanted to share some quick tips to help you be more positive. The tips come from the work I do as an executive coach as well as the insights from the group of seasoned CEOs.

Confidence is a core attribute among great leaders. Confidence to make challenging decisions. Confidence to anchor to your values when “easier” and “faster” paths seem tempting. Confidence to pivot when customer needs and wants shift.

While people universally value and seek greater confidence in work and life, actually becoming more confident can be tricky. Based on my experience as an executive coach, confidence can be gained through an array of efforts such as the achievement of small wins, focusing on the process and not just the outcomes, adopting a lifelong learner mindset, and joining a peer group. The first step to becoming more confident however, is to focus on your mindset.