Making the move from middle management to the executive suite requires a healthy dose of confidence. Executives have to make critical, wide-reaching decisions, often with limited information and time-then persuade others to execute those decisions. Self-assurance is a must.
从企业的中层小主管晋升到核心管理层，这个过程需要适度的自信来助力。高层管理者必须能够做出一些关键且影响范围广泛的决策，决策过程中所掌握的信息以及所拥有的时间往往有限，而且之后他们还必须能够说服他人来执行这些决策。自信是必备之物。
Yet gaining confidence can be a struggle. The 'Impostor Syndrome' is real: researchers at Georgia State University found that 33% of the high-achieving adults they interviewed did not feel they deserved their success. The Imposter Syndrome meant that sufferers opted out of important career opportunities, to their financial and personal detriment.
然而，获取自信有时候会很难。“冒名顶替综合症”(Impostor Syndrome)的确存在：乔治亚州立大学(Georgia State University)的研究者发现，在接受他们采访的那些成功成年人中，有33%的人感觉自己的成功不是理所应得的。“冒名顶替综合症”意味着，患者会选择放弃重要的职业机遇，从而对他们的财务和个人造成伤害。
Women in particular struggle with confidence. They often are less adept at moving forward after setbacks, reading temporary failures as permanent deficiencies, and they often have smaller professional social safety nets than men.
女性尤其会受到自信问题的困扰。她们在受到挫折后往往更不善于忘掉过去继续前行，她们会将自己暂时的失败解读为永远无法改变的缺陷，而且女性的职场社交完全网络通常也会比男性的范围狭窄。
The good news is that confidence can be learned, like any career skill. Here are 10 steps that can have you operating from a place of power:
幸好，自信就像职业技能一样可以后天习得。以下10个方法可以帮助你获得自信、晋升高层：
1. When in doubt, act. It's the difference between running and stagnant water. When you're stagnant, doubt and insecurities breed like mosquitoes. Dale Carnegie wrote that 'inaction breeds doubt and fear. Action breeds confidence and courage.' Fear of failure can paralyze us, as we almost always overestimate the consequences. Build your confidence instead by taking action, often.
1. 犹豫不决时，放手去做。这是流动的活水与一潭死水的区别。当你无所作为时，怀疑和不安全感会如蚊子一般滋生。戴尔・卡耐基(Dale Carnegie)曾写过这样一段话：“无为滋生疑虑和恐惧。行动孕育自信和勇气。”对失败的担心会让我们无法行动，因为我们几乎总是会将后果估计得过为严重。让我们通过采取行动来建立自信吧，经常为之，自信弥坚。
2. Do something outside your comfort zone each day. If we don't stretch our comfort zones, they shrink. Constantly challenge and improve yourself, and you'll become comfortable doing new things-and you will establish your identity (both to yourself and others) as someone who takes risks. Each new thing you try adds to your knowledge and skill base, and provides you with a foundation of competence. This is the bedrock of any successful career.
2. 每天做一些超越自己舒适区的事情。如果我们不主动拓展我们的舒适区，那么它会变得越来越狭窄。经常挑战并改善自己，你在接触新鲜事物时就会变得更自如，而且这样你将为自己打造出一个勇于承担风险的形象（这个形象存在于你自己的心目中，也存在于他人眼中）。每一件你尝试过的新鲜事物都会为你的知识和技能基础库增添内容，成为你能力的基础源泉。这是任何一个成功职业生涯所必备的基石。
3. Put the focus on others. Choose to be conscious of others instead of self-conscious. Ask people questions. Turn conversations into a game where you try to find a connection with the other person. Give compliments generously, and volunteer to help others when you can. Looking for the best in others will help you see it in yourself.
3. 多关心他人。选择关注他人，而非只关心自己。多向他人提问。将对话变成一场游戏，你可以从中试图找到与对方的联系。毫不吝啬地赞美他人，并在力所能及时主动提供帮助。总是去寻找别人的长处，这会帮助你找到自己的优点。
4. Cultivate mentors. Their advice and connections are invaluable, plus you will make better decisions about opportunities thanks to their objective assessments of the pros and cons. And you will be much more willing to take risks knowing you have supporters who will help you get back up on your feet if you fail.
4. 结交良师益友。来自这些人的建议以及与他们的交往是无价之宝，此外，借助他们对于优缺点的客观评价，你能够在机遇面前做出更好的决策。而且，一旦知道自己在摔倒时会有支持者愿意伸出援手来拉你一把，你便会更愿意承担风险。
5. Keep self-talk positive. It's hard to feel confident if someone puts you down all the time. It's impossible if that naysayer is you. Watch how you talk to yourself. Is it how you would talk to a friend? If not, then make a change.
5. 同自我对话时，保持积极态度。如果有人总在打击你，你很难会感到自信。而如果这个打击者是你自己，那么实现自信根本是不可能的。小心对待你与自己的对话。你与朋友对话时也会用同样的方式吗？如果不是，那么就改变一下与自己对话的方式吧。6. Eliminate negative people from your network. You absolutely need to invite and be receptive to constructive criticism if you want to grow as a professional and as an individual. But recognize that some people will never be happy with you or with life, and it is a waste of time to try to convince them of your worth. What's more, their sour outlook on life is contagious. Learn to identify these people quickly, and move on.
6. 将消极者从你的社交网络中清除。在职业道路以及个人的成长道路中，你绝对需要去主动寻找并虚心接受那些建设性的批评。但是你要认识到，有些人永远不会对你或是对生活感到满意，而要说服这些人相信你的价值所在，根本就是在浪费时间。而且这些人对于生活的消极看法是具传染性的。要学会尽快辨识出这些人，然后继续走你的路。
7. Take care of your health. Make time for exercise, and get enough rest. Your body must be physically ready to take on challenges.
7. 保重身体。腾出时间来多做运动、充分休息。身体健康，才能接受挑战。
8. Do your homework. Keep up-to-date on the news in your industry, and know your company and department inside and out. If you have a challenging task ahead, prepare and practice in your mind. Nothing builds confidence like knowledge and preparation.
8. 做好准备功课。随时了解你所在行业的最新资讯，了解你所在的公司，以及内部和外部的各个部门。如果你眼前面临一项具挑战性的工作，做好准备，并在脑子里做好演习。没有什么比知识和准备能更好地树立自信了。
9. Watch your body language. Your posture and overall appearance affect both your mental state and how others perceive (and thus respond) to you. If you want to be a leader, you have to dress and act the part. Stand and sit up straight, make eye contact, and remember to smile. Wear the professional clothing of your industry. Eliminate the telltale signs of nervousness: excessive twitching, closed-off posturing (crossed arms and legs, hunched shoulders), and shallow breathing.
9. 注意你的肢体语言。你的姿态和整体外观会影响到你的精神状态，也会影响到他人对你的印象（以及对你的回应方式）。如果你想成为领导，那么你必须一言一行都像一位领导。站姿坐姿都保持笔直，要有眼神交流，还有记得微笑。穿你所在行业的职业装。别做那些会显示你内心紧张的小动作：过多的扭动、封闭式的姿势（如双臂抱胸、翘二郎腿、蜷背等）、以及过浅的呼吸。
10. Practice gratitude daily. In a recent study of how successful people spend the first hour of each day, the No. 1 response was investing time in thinking about the things for which they are most grateful. Starting your day by saying 'thank you' for the good in your life makes it more likely that you will approach the day's challenges with the proper perspective.
10. 每天练习感恩。在最近一项有关成功人士每天第一个小时用来做些什么的研究中，排在第一位的回答是，将时间用来想那些他们最感激的事情。每天从对那些生命中最美好事物感恩开始，这样你更有可能会以恰当的视角来看待这一天即将到来的挑战。
Like public speaking or leadership, confidence is a professional skill that can be improved. According to Dr. Peter Buckley of Georgia Regents University, 'As you add experiences, you're more likely to gain confidence. And with confidence, you will embrace new experiences.' Start growing your confidence today.
正如对公众演讲或是领导能力一样，自信也是一项可以改善的职业技能。正如乔治亚摄政大学(Georgia Regents University)的彼得・巴克利(Peter Buckley)博士所说，“随着你经验的增加，你的自信会越来越强。而自信之人将获得新的经验。”从今天开始增强你的自信吧。