Feeling self-assured in whatever you do, whether it’s a presentation at work or just cooking dinner, is always a plus. Confident people do what they need to do without needing praise and admiration. A cocky person, however, is actually less self-assured under all the bluster, and is motivated by the need for approval and fanfare.
It’s a fine line between confident and cocky, as Leisa A. Bailey, Ph.D. says, “Both the confident and arrogant person is aware of personal areas of strength and ability. However, a confident person has little difficulty seeing others gifts and strengths while the arrogant cannot.”The trick is to appear confident in your own abilities without the cocky side of your personality (it likely lurks in all of us) creeping forth. So if you’re wondering how to tame your own little arrogance demon, have a look at these 10 ways to tell if you’re being too cocky—which hopefully will help you learn how to be more confident so that you can let your strong, secure self really shine through.
1. Body Language
Confident people project self-assurance by striding smoothly into a room, standing tall, making eye contact and engaging with others. Cocky people swagger into a room and immediately start name-dropping and talking about themselves.
Read Related: Build a Winning Attitude: 7 Steps to Self Confidence
