Building Confident Leadership
Confidence is a trait we often admire in people, especially in our leaders. It inspires trust in people that the decisions they make and the actions they take is the best or most effective in the situation. Despite what many believe, it is not a hereditary trait. It is a belief in oneself and is developed through effort. While confidence is important in life, it is critical in leadership.
As leaders, having self-confidence allows you to do more than stand up and speak in front of a crowd or lead meetings. You are expected to, among other things, make hard decisions and follow through with appropriate actions. You are responsible for empowering, inspiring commitment and trust from team members. How effective you are, will depend on your level of self-awareness, courage and emotional intelligence.
One thing is certain… people do not follow leaders who appear to be unsure of themselves and of their skills and abilities. So even though confidence is built from within, it is often evident by how you present yourself, physically. Additionally, if you lack the confidence to lead others effectively, your inability to engage your team will result in lackluster performance from them and your organization will suffer.
So, how can you build your confidence for more effective leadership?
Here’s what you can do:
Start by noticing the things that you are doing well and learning from the things that are not. Be willing to try new things and take different approaches. This will go a far way in creating a more amenable team in the workplace.
Get clarity on the situations that require decisions. Consider the options clearly, ensuring you understand all the factors involved.
Learning to trust yourself by doing what you say you will do. Set goals and deliver on them and you will find that as you accomplish what you set out to do, you will begin to feel different about yourself. Start with small goals and build from there.
Self-confidence helps leaders thrive and their teams to succeed.