The
Confidence Formula.
Time for
a "leadership confessional". Whether we want to admit it or not, even experienced
and established leaders struggle with confidence from time to time. Often this happens
when we are operating out of our comfort zones or when we are just not getting
the results we usually enjoy. This impacts us. It starts to create doubt and
erode confidence.
With that
in mind, I have been thinking out loud about confidence and its origins lately.
Theorist Arthur Chickering states that confidence is a critical, but I would
argue little understood, component in human potential. I have the opportunity
to teach a graduate level course in human development and I have become more
and more convinced, confidence is the impact multiplier. For example, I believe
most adults can have the intellectual capacity to handle college level
work and beyond, but many do not believe that they will. Why is this?
Again, I believe it has to do with confidence.
If I was
ever to do another dissertation (but one was enough, thank you!), I believe I
would research the origins and impact of confidence since I am convinced it bridges
the gap between can (potential) and will (performance). With that in mind, here
is my formula for confidence:
Potential
Ability + Belief in Self + Worthiness = Confidence
Let me
explain further.
Potential
Ability is just the intellectual, physical, and emotional tools we have. Most
individuals are born with a base-line ability to successfully complete what
life demands. Ability can be improved upon, however, due to its potential for
far greater improvement.
Belief in
Self is foundational and I have often written about this. Confident people have
a healthy self-appreciation for what they can do and what they have the
potential to do.
Worthiness
(versus deservedness) reinforces to a leader to be where they are or to be doing
what they are doing. It is the belief that you are just as worthy as anyone
else to have that position or role.
So how
does this come back around to leadership? Leadership Confidence starts with
your current ability but intentional leadership growth will expand that
potential to lead better and more effectively. Obviously leaders must place a
value on themselves and believe in their efforts. Finally, leaders have an
innate mind-set that they are worthy to lead. Keep in mind this is very
different from a deservedness point of view.
Here is
the exciting part of this, all three elements in the formula can be
self-developed but also developed in others!
So where
are you lacking confidence? Just plug into the formula. Maybe you need to
stretch your abilities, learn a new skill, affirm you belief, or rediscover your
WHY (thus worthiness) you are leading! At the same time, lift someone else up
and do the same for them. As John Maxwell states, we inspire ourselves when we
inspire others!
As always, if I can help you
Get Better, Be Ready and LEAD OUT LOUD, I would love to hear from you. Also, as
a bonus, if you go to my Out Loud Strategies website (www.outloudinc.com) and enter your contact
information, I will send you a FREE guide to establishing a mentoring
initiative program in your organization! Such an initiative would be critical
in order to add value to your organization!
Yours
in Leadership,
Bill
Faulkner
Co-Founder
– Out Loud Strategies
Independent
Coach, Speaker, and Trainer with the John Maxwell Team TM
Email = bill@outloudinc.com
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