We know that women entrepreneurs sometimes downplay their strengths and their business successes for fear of bragging – but brag you must.

Although women have made great strides, there is still a confidence gap. Several research studies show that women are less confident and less self-assured.

According to world-renowned speaker and Impostor Syndrome expert Dr. Valerie Young “Millions of people around the world from executives to PhDs secretly worry they’re not as smart or talented as other people ‘think’ they are. It’s called the impostor syndrome and it hurts both individuals – and the bottom line.” Recognizing this, in 2015 WeBC, with funding from Status of Women Canada, hosted Dr. Young to equip business leaders across the province with the skills to step up and be more effective.

So, what can you do to end needless self-doubt and step up with confidence? You can start with these three strategies.

Nominate yourself for an award:

Make award nominations part of your marketing strategy. Prepare your nomination well by telling your story powerfully. You can learn about “why” and “how” you should nominate yourself by reading these top tips from a number of accomplished women entrepreneurs.

Sign up for a leadership program:

Find the leader in you. There are many programs available to develop leadership qualities. WeBC offers Taking the Stage® , a powerful program developed by The Humphrey Group Inc. to help women achieve a confident leadership presence. If you feel uncomfortable in situations where the spotlight is focused on you or you just aren’t sure how to fully project your leadership qualities, then this program could be exactly what you need.

Keep learning:

Knowledge is the best investment you can make to develop confidence. A well-informed person is a confident person. Enroll in business courses and training programs to develop your skills. We know what it’s like to start and grow a business, which is why we’ve developed training that delivers results.

For WEC client Angela Nagy, CEO and co-founder of GreenStep Solutions, confidence has been crucial. As she says, “When we started out, there were a lot of doubters out there (and they’re still out there), who thought that starting a business to change the world was a nice thought, but a bad idea. It hasn’t been easy, but we’ve persevered against all odds. If it wasn’t for a high level of confidence and belief in our team’s ability to make GreenStep’s vision a reality, we would not be here today.” An award-winning business, GreenStep helps organizations measure, reduce and report on their environmental impacts.

Once you shift your mindset, embrace your strength and are ready to explore numerous awards opportunities for women entrepreneurs that exist at local, provincial and federal levels, you will set yourself up for success.