When asked to think what confidence means, most people have a feel for it but find it quite difficult to tie it down precisely. After all, confidence is not some miracle pill or wonder food you can buy in a shop.

A good dictionary provides at least three definitions for confidence, and it’s important to understand each aspect as it is easy to muddle them:

• Self-assuredness: This relates to your confidence in your ability to perform to a certain standard.
• Belief in the ability of other people: This definition focuses on how you expect others to behave in a trustworthy or competent way.
• Keeping certain information secret or restricted to a few people: This definition concerns the idea of keeping confidence.

At its heart, confidence is the ability to take appropriate and effective action in any situation, however challenging it appears to you or others.