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First Impression: Teach yourself to be confident via the lessons learned by author, Idara Ogunsaju when she taught herself.

The Confidence Talk I SAID SOAR book cover

The Confidence Talk: I SAID SOAR is a way of life. Presented by the confident, Idara Ogunsaju, this book focuses on gaining confidence in the workplace as the theories stem from the author’s own experiences. However, there are skills that are taught within the book that can be used in other aspects of life. 

The book starts with an introduction to the program, which covers what it is and how it began. In doing so, it gives you insight into the author; her hopes, her shortcomings, and how she turned things around for herself. Using a conversational tone that reads like advice from a big sister, the text is thoroughly engaging and supportive. These elements work well together to develop trust in the material that is to be shared. 

More than just a reference book with key advice, The Confidence Talk: I SAID SOAR is a workbook of sorts. Throughout the text, you are asked to define confidence, list your accomplishments, examine your emotions in relation to a tough task, and plan tasks, to name just a few of the exercises. Therefore, the text works really well as a coaching aid and allows the reader to chart their progress over time. The signposting for activities and information is extremely clear, making use of icons such as keys for points of note, and a book for when the reader is going to be given passages that relate to establishing the confidence that they seek. Each section is also accompanied by a photographic business illustration. 

The aforementioned conversational tone is threaded throughout the book, with the author repeatedly returning to her own experiences and emotions. She shares thought processes, which are actually healthy ways to reflect on her specific examples. Readers with less healthy coping mechanism when it comes to confidence may wish to reframe their thoughts in a similar way.                         

The complete workbook is polished, well organized, and professionally presented. It is easy to work through the sections required and possible to ignore others that are not needed. Due to the nature of the topic, it is best suited to readers that are new to their work roles perhaps due to a promotion, or simply because they are new to work in general. For the mature audience the book may come across as common knowledge so I would stress the fact that is a motivational guide above all else.

Quick Rating: ⭐⭐⭐ / PG

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