With more than 100 billion downloads from Apple’s store alone, apps are as popular as they ever were and those claiming to help you increase your career confidence are on the rise.
In the latest in our series on the apps that put professional progression at your fingertips (see time management and creativity), we take a look at those designed to target vulnerabilities in your self-esteem.
Cognitive Diary CBT Self-Help (download)
Best for: Anyone whose limiting beliefs are undermining their confidence
Developed by a clinical psychologist and licensed psychotherapist, this app helps you steer a path through confidence blockers by shining a spotlight on your limiting beliefs. It uses the tools of cognitive-behavioural therapy to enable users to recognise how their own thoughts around challenging situations – falling out with the boss, for example – can often be irrational. Through the diary tool you’ll record details of events that shape your working life, along with your thoughts and feelings around them. You’ll then be taught CBT methods designed to empower you to change your own emotions, moods and behaviours and emerge stronger and better able to confidently manage situations and colleagues.
Why we like it: The regular challenges are an effective tool for mindset alteration. It’s customisable, easy to identify your own progress, and is password protected for total privacy.
Build Confidence (download)
Best for: Mindfulness enthusiasts open to using meditation as a confidence-building tool.
Developed by a clinical hypnotherapist, this app is a guided meditation tool for self-esteem with the added benefit of being deeply relaxing. Its thousands of fans like to use it just before bedtime as an aid to banishing chattering mind or a headful of the next day’s to-do list. But as well as being a good stress and anxiety booster, its foremost purpose is to develop your self-esteem through optimism, positive thinking and focusing on all that is good in your life.
Why we like it: Once you exhaust the meditations in this app, there are others in the series you can download to continue your practice. Related to confidence in particular are Positivity, Success, Public Speaking, Move On and Set Goals.
Mindfit (download)
Best for: Anyone willing to devote at least three weeks of regular and active use of the app as a means to increasing confidence – this is how long the Norwegian psychologists behind the programme say is required for tangible and lasting results to be seen.
The holistic programme is split into three parts. Firstly, you take some time to describe yourself, what motivates you or is currently holding you back, and the thoughts and feelings that might be undermining your confidence. Secondly, you keep a mood diary, in which you’re encouraged to record successes, however small, positive feelings and experiences. Thirdly, you’re guided through a series of techniques and mini challenges, all of which are designed to bolster confidence and increase both your mastery of challenging situations and ability to relinquish control over those you cannot.
Why we like it: The interface is exceptionally simple to use, and the programme has plenty of variety, so logging in never feels repetitive.
I Can Make You Confident (download)
Best for: Users who can commit to regular log-ins and activity for the full duration of the seven-day programme.
Designed by the British hypnotherapist and NLP practitioner Paul McKenna, this app holds your hand through seven-days of ‘mind reprogramming’ exercises to conquer limiting beliefs, low-confidence moods and negative self-talk.
Why we like it: The clean and modern interface makes it easy to track your own progress with ‘percentage complete’ reports on days and exercises, and recognition of milestones achieved along the way.
TED Conferences (download)
Best for: Anyone who enjoys the inspiration and confidence-boosting potential of learning from others’ experiences and knowledge.
As well as containing all the TED talks available in the online archive (that’s currently over 100 talks on the topic of confidence including a playlist of those designed to specifically boost your own self-esteem), the app acts as a fantastic discovery tool for talks you might not normally unearth. Simply choose a topic you’d like to explore, and let the world’s foremost speakers and experts come and inspire you.
Why we like it: The ‘personal recommendations’ function of the app puts you face to face with little-known TED talks you might not uncover through browsing the website.
Personal Growth & Success – Build Confidence (download)
Best for: Anyone who wants to develop confidence with a particular business goal in mind.
As the title would suggest, this app provides confidence-boosting and limiting belief-smashing tips with the aim of forging ahead. With mini essays on a range of topics – including ‘fear of success’ and ‘staying motivated’ – it’s perfect for dipping in and out in your downtime.
Why we like it: Thought-provoking questions and information provided in bite-sized elements make this one of the more digestible confidence-boosting apps.
