March is my favourite month of the year: I was born in March! But more than that, there is this unspoken mood in the air that whispers – begin again.
After the new year resolutions have either stuck or faded and the initial momentum has settled. Now, two months in, we’re left with a choice: keep going, or start over.
There’s no shame in starting over. In fact, some of the most confident people I know are the ones who aren’t afraid to begin again when something isn’t working. Students switching their main course choice. Professionals pivoting careers. Leaders restructuring their approach. Entrepreneurs starting or re-starting businesses. All of it requires the same thing: the confidence to admit where you are and the courage to move differently.
Spring is emerging. Nature is beginning again. And this March, as we celebrate International Women’s Day and Women’s History Month, we’re reminded that progress itself is about beginning again and again, each generation building on the last, each voice adding to the chorus.
1. Nominate a Woman for Something
International Women’s Day falls on March 8th, and one of the most powerful things you can do is actively advocate for women around you. Nominate a colleague for an award. Recommend a female student for a leadership role. Put forward a woman’s name for a speaking opportunity or panel. Confident people don’t just celebrate others, they create tangible opportunities for them to be recognized.
2. Share a Woman’s Story That Changed You
During Women’s History Month, take time to publicly acknowledge a woman whose work, words, or example shaped your path. Write a LinkedIn post about a female professor who believed in you. Share how a woman leader in your field inspired your career choice. Tell your team about a historical figure whose courage resonates with you today. When we share these stories, we ensure they’re not forgotten.
3. Speak Without Apologizing First
Women especially are conditioned to soften their statements with “I’m sorry, but…” or “This might be silly, but…” This month, practice stating your ideas directly. “I think we should consider…” “My recommendation is…” “Here’s what I’m noticing…” Your thoughts don’t need a disclaimer. They need your conviction.
4. Claim Credit for Your Work
Research shows women are less likely to self-promote than men, often attributing success to team effort or luck. This month, practice owning your contributions explicitly. In meetings, say “I developed that strategy” instead of “We worked on that.” In performance reviews, list your specific achievements. Taking credit isn’t arrogance when it’s earned, it’s accuracy. Even when you are certain that the idea was divine inspired, acknowledge that the inspiration was channelled through you.
5. Amplify Other Women’s Voices
When a woman makes a point in a meeting that gets ignored, repeat it and credit her. “As Sarah just said…” When a female colleague shares an accomplishment, celebrate it publicly. When a woman is interrupted, create space for her to finish. These small acts of amplification change room dynamics and build collective confidence.
6. Ask for What You Deserve
March is an excellent time to schedule conversations about compensation, promotions, or expanded responsibilities. Research salary ranges for your role. Document your contributions. Practice your ask out loud. Women are statistically less likely to negotiate, and that gap compounds over a lifetime. Confident people don’t wait to be offered what they’re worth, they ask for it.
7. Study a Woman You Admire
Choose one woman, historical or contemporary, whose path intrigues you and spend time learning about her journey. Read her biography. Listen to her interviews. Study her strategies. What can you learn from how she navigated obstacles? How did she build her confidence? How did she use her voice? Let her example inform your own approach.
8. Start the Thing You’ve Been Avoiding
There’s something you’ve been putting off. The difficult conversation. The graduate school application. The business idea. The creative project. Whatever it is, this is your month to take the first step. You don’t need to have it all figured out. You just need to begin. Action builds confidence faster than planning ever will.
9. Mentor or Sponsor Someone
If you’re in a position to do so, actively invest in another woman’s growth. Offer to review a student’s resume. Introduce a junior colleague to someone in your network. Share advice with someone earlier in their journey. When women lift each other, everyone rises. And teaching what you know reinforces your own confidence in what you’ve learned.
10. Rewrite Your Internal Script
Pay attention to how you talk to yourself this month. Are you your own champion or your harshest critic? When you make a mistake, do you spiral into self-doubt or treat it as data? Women often carry internalized messages about not being enough. This March, actively challenge those scripts. Speak to yourself the way you’d speak to someone you’re mentoring.
A Reflection for March
Beginning again doesn’t mean you failed the first time. It means you’re wise enough to recognize when recalibration is needed. And as we honour the women who came before us, who fought for seats at tables that didn’t want them, who spoke up when it cost them everything, we remember that confidence isn’t just personal, it’s political. Every time you take up space, use your voice, or refuse to shrink, you’re continuing their work. Spring is here. And so is your next opportunity to grow, unapologetically.
Yours in confidence,
Coach Flourish